COVID-19 Infection During Pregnancy Linked to Higher Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Babies

16% of Children Born to Infected Mothers Diagnosed with Disorders
Highest Risk for Boys and Those Exposed During Late Pregnancy

A study has found that children born to mothers who were exposed to COVID-19 during pregnancy have a higher likelihood of being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders, such as language development delay or autism spectrum disorder, before the age of three.

A study has found that children born to women infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy have a higher risk of being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders such as language development delay or autism spectrum disorder before the age of three (photo is for illustrative purposes and unrelated to the article content).

A research team at Massachusetts General Brigham (MGB) in the United States analyzed the medical records of approximately 18,000 mother-newborn pairs who gave birth at the hospital between March 2020 and May 2021. According to the study, among 861 children born to mothers infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy, 140 (16.3%) were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders-such as language development delay, autism spectrum disorder, or behavioral development issues-before the age of three. In contrast, among 17,263 children born to mothers who were not infected, only 1,680 (9.7%) received such diagnoses.

After controlling for various factors such as maternal age, race, and socioeconomic background, the researchers found that children born to mothers infected with COVID-19 during pregnancy had about a 29% higher risk of experiencing neurodevelopmental disorders compared to those born to uninfected mothers. Notably, boys showed a 43% higher risk than girls, and children born to mothers who were infected between 27 and 40 weeks of pregnancy had a 35% higher risk compared to those whose mothers were not infected.

Dr. Andrea Edlow, who led the study, emphasized, "This research demonstrates that COVID-19 infection can affect not only pregnant women but also the brain development of the fetus," adding, "It underscores the critical importance of preventing COVID-19 during pregnancy."

Dr. Lydia Shook, the first author of the paper, also stated, "It is important for parents to understand that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may have negative neurodevelopmental effects on their children," and added, "Being aware of this can help ensure timely evaluation and support for children, aiding in early intervention."

The research team explained that previous studies have also reported that maternal infection or inflammation during pregnancy can affect the neurodevelopment of offspring, and animal experiments have shown that immune responses during pregnancy can negatively impact brain and behavioral development in offspring. This study is particularly significant as it represents the first large-scale, long-term follow-up analysis based on human data in the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The researchers stressed the need to develop more specific risk management strategies through future studies on the effects of COVID-19 vaccination and infection prevention in pregnant women, as well as ongoing monitoring of child development.