16 Oct UCSF Study Examines Childhood Development after Maternal Covid Infection

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Jaswa

Eleni G. Jaswa, MD, MSc
Assistant Professor, Ob/Gyn, Reproductive Science
UCSF

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study?

Response: Some infections during pregnancy have been associated with abnormal neurodevelopment in children. This is likely due to the infection itself, or the maternal immune system response to infection. We sought to determine whether maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, a now common occurrence, was associated with changes in children’s neurodevelopment out to 24-months-old, compared to control children not exposed to maternal COVID-19 in utero.

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings?

Response:  In this cohort study of 2003 pregnant women and their children, we found no difference in developmental delay, as indicated by abnormal scores on a validated screening test called the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, 3rd Edition (ASQ-3), among children who had been exposed in to maternal COVID-19 infection in utero versus those children who were not exposed.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

Response: These data provide reassurance for pregnant women that getting a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy does not appear to pose risk for developmental delay in their child. 

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a results of this study?

Response#CovOther research should focus on identifying other factors, for example societal responses, which may have helped or hindered children’s development during the pandemic to inform future public health policies.

We are super grateful to all the mothers who continue to contribute data on their children as they grow, which makes these discoveries possible. We are also incredibly grateful to the group of public and private philanthropists who supported the study.

Citation:

Jaswa EG, Cedars MI, Lindquist KJ, et al. In Utero Exposure to Maternal COVID-19 Vaccination and Offspring Neurodevelopment at 12 and 18 Months. JAMA Pediatr. 2024;178(3):258–265. doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2023.5743

https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2814106

———-

The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition.

Some links may be sponsored. Products are not warranted or endorsed.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

Last Updated on October 16, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD