Early prenatal exposure to pandemic influenza A (H1N1) infection and child psychomotor development at 6 months – A population-based cohort study. (July 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Borren, Ingrid; Tambs, Kristian; Gustavson, Kristin; Schjølberg, Synnve; Eriksen, Willy; Håberg, Siri E.; Hungnes, Olav; Mjaaland, Siri; Trogstad, Lill I.S.
• Is Part Of: Early human development. Volume 122(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2018-07
• Subjects: Norflu Norwegian Influenza Pregnancy Cohort Study -- ICQ Infant Characteristics Questionnaire -- ASQ Ages and Stages Questionnaire -- ICD International Classification of Diseases -- ICPC International Classification of Primary Care -- HI titer hemagglutination-inhibition antibody titer -- ILI influenza-like illness -- SCL symptom check list -- gw gestational week -- GA gestational age -- LMP last menstrual period; Influenza -- Pandemic -- Prenatal -- Neurodevelopment -- Temperament -- H1N1; Fetus -- Periodicals; Neonatology -- Periodicals; Prenatal influences -- Periodicals; 612.65
• DOI: 10.1016/j.earlhumdev.2018.05.005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0378-3782

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Studies investigating gestational influenza and child neurodevelopment are still scarce, particularly concerning timing of infection in pregnancy. This is the first study to investigate associations between gestational influenza and infant psychomotor development and temperament at 6 months. Methods: Data from The Norwegian Influenza Pregnancy Cohort, established during the 2009 swine flu pandemic, were utilized. Information on influenza infection, vaccination, maternal health and child health and development is available from questionnaires, national registry data and maternal blood samples drawn at delivery. Maternal influenza A H1N1 pdm09 infection was serologically confirmed. 609 children with complete data were identified. Children of exposed and non-exposed mothers were compared using generalized linear models. Results: Children exposed to influenza during gestational weeks (gw) 0–8 had adjusted general development scores indicating slightly delayed development compared to non-exposed children (0.28 standard deviations (SD) 95% confidence interval (CI): −0. 01; 0.58; p = 0.06). The temperamental scores of children exposed during gw 0–8 were slightly higher (0.31 SD; 95% CI: −0. 03; 0.64; p = 0.07) than non-exposed children indicating a more difficult temperament. In comparison, the developmental scores for children exposed in gw 9–40 were −0.31 SD (95% CI: −0. 65; 0.04; p = 0.09) better than non-exposed children, while the temperamental scores were 0.17 (95% CI: −0. 23; 0.56; p = 0.36) for the same period. Conclusion: Modest associations were found between maternal influenza A (H1N1) pdm infection during gestational weeks 0–8 and psychomotor development at 6 months. Highlights: Psychomotor development in children exposed to pandemic influenza in utero were compared to unexposed children at age 6 mo. Prenatal influenza exposure in gestational weeks 0-8 was associated with somewhat delayed psychomotor development at 6 months. Influenza exposure in gestational weeks 0-8 also indicated slightly worse temperament. Pre-conceptional exposure to pandemic influenza showed similar trends for both outcomes. No clear associations with gestational influenza were found for exposure after 9th gestational week.