Infants' General Movements Were Not Affected by Exposure to Maternal Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Infections.

AIM: Prenatal maternal infections may impair infant brain development. This study investigated the effect of maternal infections with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) during pregnancy on infant neurodevelopment by assessing general movements (GMs).

METHODS

Infants were recruited for this multicenter prospective cohort study from LMU University Hospital sites in Munich after birth or during routine visits. GMs were recorded and assessed between 1 July 2022 and 31 January 2023, using the Hadders-Algra method. Odds ratios for abnormal GMs were calculated for infants with parent-reported prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure compared to unexposed controls. Specific GM subgroups were analysed at preterm, writhing, and fidgety ages.

RESULTS

The study comprised 114 exposed infants (55.3% male) and 92 controls (54.3% male). There were no significant differences between the groups at birth. Two of the mothers were infected twice and one of them required hospitalisation. GMs were assessed at a mean corrected age (CA) of 4 weeks. The odds ratios showed no significant differences in GM quality between exposed infants and controls in either the total group or the subgroups.

CONCLUSION

Prenatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2 did not affect early neurodevelopment, which was determined by GM quality. Further studies should include long-term outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION: The study was registered at the German Clinical Trial Register (ID: DRKS00029247; https://drks.de/search/de/trial/DRKS00029247).