#19,008
While we are still in our year-end science `news drought', we do have a release from JAMA, and a link to a new study Obstetrics & Gynecology, which shed new light on the impact of maternal COVID infection on the health of the unborn child.
This is a topic we've looked at previously, including in 2022's Nature: Deleterious Effects of Nervous System in the Offspring Following Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection.
We've also looked at the impact of maternal influenza (and other viral) infections on the unborn child, where we've seen similar patterns emerge. A few examples include:
JAMA Psych: Long-term Risk of Neuropsychiatric Disease After Exposure to Infection In Utero
Pregnancy, Influenza & Elevated Psychosis Risks In Adult Offspring
JAMA Psych: Long-term Risk of Neuropsychiatric Disease After Exposure to Infection In Utero
Many researchers believe this is more likely due to Maternal Immune Activation (MIA) - which includes cytokine releases and fever - than to fetal exposure to a specific pathogen.
In today's report, researchers report that in a study of > 18 000 live births in the Mass General Brigham health system between March 2020 and May 2021, 861 were exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
When compared to the unexposed cohort, those exposed to COVID-19 in utero had a 29% higher risk of neurodevelopmental delays (e.g. speech or motor issues) by age 3.
Researchers found that males were at higher risk than females, and the risk appeared greatest in those exposed during the third trimester of pregnancy.
While the results are compelling, this was a single retrospective study; which may have been subject to screening bias and other confounders. Meaning it falls short of proving a `causal connection'.
That said, its findings do fall in line with other studies we've seen on COVID and other maternal viral infections, and it deserves serious consideration.
Since neither of these articles appear to be open-access, for copyright reasons I'll just provide the links below for you to follow.
First up is a plain-language summary published by JAMA at:
COVID-19 in Pregnancy Linked With Risk of Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Early Childhood
Samantha Anderer1
The full research paper can be accessed at:
Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Infection in Utero
Shook, Lydia L. MD; Castro, Victor MS; Ibanez-Pintor, Laura MD; Perlis, Roy H. MD, MSc; Edlow, Andrea G. MD, MScAuthor Information
Obstetrics & Gynecology 147(1):p 11-20, January 2026. | DOI: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000006112
