Long-term Motor and Cognitive Function in the Children of Women With Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

INTRODUCTION

Research on long-term outcomes of children exposed to inflammatory bowel disease [IBD] in utero is lacking. Maternal inflammation, IBD medications, or other factors may increase the risk of developmental disabilities in the offspring.

METHODS

We used the Danish National Birth Cohort, an ongoing prospective study that includes 100 419 pregnancies of 92 274 women, in conjunction with the Danish National Registries, to evaluate cognitive and motor development of the children of women with and without IBD. We analysed basic measures of childhood development at 6-month and 18-month interviews with the mother and with validated questionnaires filled out by the parents when the child was 7 years old. We adjusted for multiple confounders, including preterm birth.

RESULTS

At 6 months, we included 484 children of women with IBD and 69 571 unexposed children; at 18 months, 471 exposed and 66 018 unexposed; at 7 years, 391 exposed and 54 356 unexposed. At 18 months, exposed children were significantly less likely to 'use word-like sounds' but there was no difference between use of 'sentences of 2 words'. At 6 and 18 months, there were no other obvious differences in language and motor development. At 7 years, cognitive scores [emotional, conduct, hyperactivity, peer, and social scores] and motor development [gross/fine motor skills and general coordination] were similar between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Children exposed to IBD in utero and unexposed children scored similarly on survey-based tools assessing basic measures of neurodevelopment over 7 years. These results are reassuring for current and future parents with IBD.