Abstract

Introduction

The consequences for the COVID-19 pandemic in the newborns of affected mothers remains unknown. Previous clinical experiences with other infections during pregnancy lead to considered pregnant women and their offspring especially vulnerable for SARS-COV-2. That is, the underlying physiopathological changes caused by the infection (e.g. storm of cytokines, micro-coagulation in placenta or vertical transmission) could clearly compromise fetal neurodevelopment.

Objectives

To analyze the impact of maternal SARS-COV-2 infection during pregnancy in early neurodevelopment of infants gestated during the COVID-19 pandemic period compared to those gestated immediately prior (2017-2021).

Methods

212 pregnant women (14% infected) were followed throughout their pregnancy and postpartum, including newborn development. SARS-COV-2 infection was serologically confirmed during pregnancy. The Brazelton Neonatal Assessment Scale (NBAS) was administered at 6 weeks old by a trained neonatologist to evaluate neurological, social and behavioral aspects of newborn’s functioning. Differences in NBAS scores between cases and controls were tested by ANOVAs. All the analysis were adjusted for maternal age, sociodemographic status, anxious-depressive symptomatology, infant’s sex and gestational age at birth and NBAS, and for the period of gestation (previous or during COVID-19 pandemic).

Results

NBAS social interactive dimension was significantly decreased in those infants exposed to prenatal SARS-COV-2 (F=4.248, p=.043), particularly when the infection occurred before the week 20 of gestation. Gestation during COVID-19 pandemic did not alter NBAS subscales.

Conclusions

SARS-COV-2 infection during pregnancy seems to be associated with lower NBAS scores on social dimension in 6 weeks old exposed newborns.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Details

Title
The impact of maternal SARS-COV-2 infection in early stages of newborn neurodevelopment: preliminary results in a multicenter Spanish study
Author
Á Castro Quintas 1 ; N San Martín 2 ; De Las Cuevas, I 3 ; Eixarch, E 4 ; Daura-Corral, M 2 ; Lopez, M 4 ; L De La Fuente Tomas 5 ; Garcia-Portilla, M P 6 ; Fañanas, L 1 ; Ayesa-Arriola, R 7 

 Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto De Salut Carlos Iii, Madrid, Spain; University of Barcelona, Evolutionary Biology, Ecology And Environmental Sciences, Barcelona, Spain 
 University of Barcelona, Department Of Evolutive Biology, Ecology And Ambiental Sciences, Barcelona, Spain 
 Universitary Hospital Marques de Valdecilla, Neonatology, Santander, Spain 
 Maternitat Hospital Clinic Barcelona, Bcnatal Fetal Medicine Research Center, Barcelona, Spain 
 University of Oviedo, Department Of Psychiatry, Oviedo, Spain 
 Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto De Salut Carlos Iii, Madrid, Spain 
 Centre for Biomedical Research Network on Mental Health (CIBERSAM), Instituto De Salut Carlos Iii, Madrid, Spain; Valdecilla Biomedical Research Institute, Psychiatry, Santander, Spain 
Pages
S103-S103
Publication year
2022
Publication date
Jun 2022
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
ISSN
09249338
e-ISSN
17783585
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
2708708272
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the European Psychiatric Association. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.