ABSTRACT
Background The effects of in-utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on the offspring's neurodevelopment are still unknown.Methods We performed a prospective cohort of babies exposed to SARS-Cov-2 during pregnancy, and a control group of unexposed babies in a low-income area in Northeastern Brazil. All data were prospectively collected from medical records. Children’s neurodevelopment was assessed using the guide for Monitoring Child Development in the IMCI context and the Ages & Stages Questionnaire (ASQ-3), at ages 4, 6, and 12 months. Maternal depressive symptoms were assessed using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS).Results We followed 127 children for one year, 69 children in the COVID-19 exposed Group (EG), and 68 in the control group (CG). All mothers were unvaccinated at the time included in the cohort. Maternal demographics were similar in the two groups, but prematurity was more prevalent in mothers infected with COVID-19 (21.7% vs. 8.8%, p = .036) and EPDS scores were also significantly higher among the EG (M = 11.00, SD = 6.00 vs. M = 8.68, SD = 4.72, p = 0.04). Both groups had similar rates of cesarean delivery, Apgar scores, average birth weight, head circumference and length at birth. 20.3% of EG children and 5.9% of the CG received a diagnosis of neurodevelopmental delay within 12 months of life (p = 0.013, RR = 3.44; 95% CI, 1.19–9.95). 10% of EG children presented abnormalities at the cranial ultrasound.Conclusions COVID-19 exposure was associated with neurodevelopmental impairment. This study highlights the importance of specific guidelines in the follow-up of children exposed to in-utero SARS-CoV-2 in order to mitigate or prevent long-term effects on children’s health.