PC1057: Developmental Screening of Full-term Infants After In-utero Exposure to Maternal sars-cov-2 Infection at 16 to 18 Months of Age

Background:

Background: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnant women is associated with increased maternal and neonatal morbidities. The impact of in-utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on long-term infant neurodevelopment is currently unknown.

Objective: The objective of the study was to undertake developmental screening in infants aged 16-18 months born to mothers with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy.

Methods:

Methods: This was a descriptive prospective cohort study of full-term infants who had in-utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection as assessed by the Ages and Stages Questionnaire®- 3rd edition (ASQ®-3) at 16 to 18 months of life. Subjects were identified via electronic medical record search of full-term infants delivered to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 positive test during hospitalization between 3/1/2020 to 7/31/2020. The families of eligible subjects were contacted via telephone and if they agreed to participate an informed consent was obtained. Infants with prematurity ( < 37 weeks gestational age), major congenital anomalies or genetic diagnoses were excluded. Data on maternal and neonatal characteristics were extracted from the charts.

Results:

Results: A total of 51 children were enrolled in the study. Twelve (24%) were below cutoff in at least one domain of development, of which four (33%) were below in multiple domains. Fifteen (29%) subjects were only close to the cutoff in at least one domain, of which seven (47%) were close to the cutoff in at least one domain. Communication, fine motor and problem-solving were most affected (Figure-1). Additionally, twenty-one (41%) of the mothers were symptomatic though none required respiratory support or intensive care. There was no statistically significant difference between subjects either below, and/or close to the cutoff born to asymptomatic and symptomatic mothers regardless of timing of symptoms during pregnancy (Table-1).

Conclusion:

Conclusion: About one-quarter of children with history of in-utero exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection were below cutoff in at least one domain of development on ASQ®-3 at 16-18 months, more than would be expected for a full-term, low risk cohort. Maternal symptoms at time of delivery did not correlate with likelihood of having abnormal ASQ®-3 results. In this currently ongoing study, we intend to enroll comparison cohort of children without in-utero exposure with maternal SARS-CoV-2.