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The Association between Antenatal SARS-CoV-2 Exposure and Infant Neurodevelopment at Four Months of Age : A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Survey within the COPE Study

Berg, Johan LU orcid ; Linden, Karolina LU orcid ; Zaigham, Mehreen LU orcid ; Domellöf, Magnus ; Ahlsson, Fredrik LU ; Elfvin, Anders ; Åden, Ulrika LU ; Abrahamsson, Thomas ; Ohlin, Andreas and Berg, Johannna , et al. (2025) In International Journal of Infectious Diseases p.107973-107973
Abstract

OBJECTIVES: It remains unclear whether antenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure affects subsequent infant neurodevelopment. We aimed to investigate the association between antenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and neurodevelopment in four-month-old infants.

METHODS: Data was collected within the prospective multicenter COVID-19 during pregnancy and early childhood study, COPE (NCT04433364). Infants exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection from conception until two days postpartum and unexposed controls were included June 2020-December 2022.

PRIMARY OUTCOME: four-month-old infant neurodevelopment, measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3 rd Edition (ASQ) total mean scores.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Scores below cutoff for... (More)

OBJECTIVES: It remains unclear whether antenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure affects subsequent infant neurodevelopment. We aimed to investigate the association between antenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and neurodevelopment in four-month-old infants.

METHODS: Data was collected within the prospective multicenter COVID-19 during pregnancy and early childhood study, COPE (NCT04433364). Infants exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection from conception until two days postpartum and unexposed controls were included June 2020-December 2022.

PRIMARY OUTCOME: four-month-old infant neurodevelopment, measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3 rd Edition (ASQ) total mean scores.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Scores below cutoff for total ASQ or the ASQ domains.

RESULTS: Of 2,453 enrolled infants, 1,446 (555 exposed and 891 unexposed) had available ASQ data. In adjusted regression models, there was no group difference in ASQ total mean scores. Exposed infants had lower risk of fine motor domain scores below cutoff (exposed: 4.0% vs. unexposed: 6.6%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.92). Infants exposed to severe maternal COVID-19 had increased risk of total ASQ scores below cutoff (exposed: 16.0% vs. unexposed: 6.1%; aOR, 3.57; 95% CI, 1.14-11.24).

CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with overall impaired four-month infant neurodevelopmental screening. In exploratory analyses, severe maternal COVID-19 was associated with abnormal screening results.

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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
epub
subject
in
International Journal of Infectious Diseases
pages
107973 - 107973
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • pmid:40617344
ISSN
1878-3511
DOI
10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107973
language
English
LU publication?
yes
additional info
Copyright © 2025. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
id
bbdc7a6a-c93b-4600-86e4-e99c92fb3e23
date added to LUP
2025-07-08 14:18:19
date last changed
2025-07-08 16:06:42
@article{bbdc7a6a-c93b-4600-86e4-e99c92fb3e23,
  abstract     = {{<p>OBJECTIVES: It remains unclear whether antenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure affects subsequent infant neurodevelopment. We aimed to investigate the association between antenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and neurodevelopment in four-month-old infants.</p><p>METHODS: Data was collected within the prospective multicenter COVID-19 during pregnancy and early childhood study, COPE (NCT04433364). Infants exposed to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection from conception until two days postpartum and unexposed controls were included June 2020-December 2022.</p><p>PRIMARY OUTCOME: four-month-old infant neurodevelopment, measured using the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3 rd Edition (ASQ) total mean scores. </p><p>SECONDARY OUTCOMES: Scores below cutoff for total ASQ or the ASQ domains.</p><p>RESULTS: Of 2,453 enrolled infants, 1,446 (555 exposed and 891 unexposed) had available ASQ data. In adjusted regression models, there was no group difference in ASQ total mean scores. Exposed infants had lower risk of fine motor domain scores below cutoff (exposed: 4.0% vs. unexposed: 6.6%; adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 0.55; 95% CI, 0.33-0.92). Infants exposed to severe maternal COVID-19 had increased risk of total ASQ scores below cutoff (exposed: 16.0% vs. unexposed: 6.1%; aOR, 3.57; 95% CI, 1.14-11.24).</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Antenatal maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection was not associated with overall impaired four-month infant neurodevelopmental screening. In exploratory analyses, severe maternal COVID-19 was associated with abnormal screening results.</p>}},
  author       = {{Berg, Johan and Linden, Karolina and Zaigham, Mehreen and Domellöf, Magnus and Ahlsson, Fredrik and Elfvin, Anders and Åden, Ulrika and Abrahamsson, Thomas and Ohlin, Andreas and Berg, Johannna and Hjertberg, Linda and Graner, Sofie and Wendel, Sophia Brismar and Iorizzo, Linda and Arnkil, Sofie and Carlsson, Ylva and Veje, Malin and Bergman, Lina and Sengpiel, Verena and Andersson, Ola}},
  issn         = {{1878-3511}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{07}},
  pages        = {{107973--107973}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{International Journal of Infectious Diseases}},
  title        = {{The Association between Antenatal SARS-CoV-2 Exposure and Infant Neurodevelopment at Four Months of Age : A Prospective Multicenter Cohort Survey within the COPE Study}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107973}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/j.ijid.2025.107973}},
  year         = {{2025}},
}