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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Maternal Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Infant Outcomes
Catherine Psaras1, Rita H Ryu1,2, Rebecca Baer1
1Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla.
JAMA Network Open
|May 27, 2026
Summary
Mothers with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) face higher risks for adverse infant outcomes, including NICU admission and preterm birth. Preexisting conditions like hypertension and mental health issues significantly contribute to these risks.
Area of Science:
- Perinatal health
- Developmental disabilities
- Public health
Background:
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDDs) are associated with disparities in pregnancy and infant outcomes.
- Limited understanding exists regarding how risks differ across IDD subtypes and the role of maternal health conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate associations between maternal IDD subtypes and adverse infant outcomes.
- To determine the extent to which modifiable maternal health conditions explain these associations.
Main Methods:
- Cohort study analyzing California births (2007-2021) using linked vital statistics and hospital records.
- Included over 6.4 million singleton births; identified maternal IDD diagnoses from hospital records.
- Analyzed outcomes including NICU admission, small-for-gestational-age birth, and preterm birth.
Main Results:
- Infants born to mothers with IDD had significantly higher risks of NICU admission, SGA birth, preterm birth, and very preterm birth.
- Risks were highest for maternal diagnoses of chromosomal differences, other IDDs, and intellectual disability.
- Preexisting hypertension, epilepsy, and mental health conditions explained a substantial portion of the increased risk, particularly for NICU admission.
Conclusions:
- Pregnant individuals with IDD diagnoses face substantially higher risks of adverse infant outcomes.
- Preexisting hypertension and neuropsychiatric conditions are key modifiable factors for intervention.
- Targeting these conditions preconceptionally and prenatally may mitigate risks for infants born to mothers with IDD.
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