COVID-19 infection during pregnancy increased the chances of developing Neurodevelopmental disorders among infants.

According to the study, even after accounting for untimely birth, babies born to the 222 moms who tested positive for COVID-19 during pregnancy were more likely to acquire a neurodevelopmental diagnosis in the first 12 months after birth.

Twofold more chances of developing neurodevelopmental disorders were seen among babies who were exposed to the virus in the womb compared to those getting disorders in the first year of birth (6.3% vs 3.0 %). A greater rate of neurodevelopmental diagnoses was observed among COVID-19-positive pregnant ladies. Those with unadjusted models had (odds ratio [OR], 2.17 [95% CI, 1.24-3.79]; P = .006)   and those adjusted for race, community, insurance status, baby’s sex, mother’s age, and preterm status (adjusted OR, 1.86 [95% CI, 1.03-3.36]; P = .04). The occurrence of premature birth increased if the Covid-19 infection mother contracted the infection in the last three months of pregnancy (adjusted OR, 2.34 [95% CI, 1.23-4.44]; P = .01).

The researchers further concluded that the Delta variant caused significant harm to the placenta and was linked to a far higher chance of stillbirth than other variants, according to the research and more large-scale studies and evaluation was needed to determine the exact mechanism resulting in the increase in developing neurodevelopmental disorders. The study was published in the JAMA Network Open study. ((MedPage Today June 9, 2022); JAMA Netw Open 2022; DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.15787.