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Fetuses exposed in utero to SARS-CoV-2 are not at an increased risk for neurodevelopmental problems in early childhood.

This prospective study aimed to assess whether in utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19, is associated with abnormal neurodevelopment among children at ages 12, 18, and 24 months. It included 2003 pregnant individuals (mean age, 33.3 years) from the ASPIRE cohort who were enrolled before 10 weeks’ gestation and followed through 24 months postpartum; 10.8 percent of them were exposed to SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy, as determined via self-reported data or dried blood spot cards.

The birth mothers were required to complete the Ages & Stages Questionnaires, Third Edition (ASQ-3), a validated screening tool for neurodevelopmental delays, at 12, 18, and 24 months postpartum. Neurodevelopmental outcomes were available for 1757, 1522, and 1523 children at ages 12, 18, and 24 months, respectively. The primary outcome was a score below the cutoff on the ASQ-3 across any of the following developmental domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and social skills. Head over to Medscape to read the full story.