Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant neurodevelopmental outcomes

OBJECTIVE: This population-based cohort study in Kobe, Japan, investigated the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant neurodevelopment by comparing children born before and during the pandemic. DESIGN: Retrospective population-based cohort study of 63 703 children born between 1 April 2014 and 31 October 2020, who underwent an 18-month health check-up. SETTING: Kobe, Japan. PATIENT: Children born between April 2014 and March 2018 (pre-COVID-19 group) or April-October 2020 (during-COVID-19 group). INTERVENTION: None MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Neurodevelopmental outcomes assessed by trained paediatricians, including language, social and behavioural indicators. RESULTS: The abnormal neurodevelopment prevalence was higher in the during-COVID-19 group (12.8%) than in the pre-COVID-19 group (10.2%) (OR, 1.30; 99% CI 1.16 to 1.46). Similarly, the rate of children without meaningful words was higher during the pandemic (7.1% vs 4.8%; OR, 1.52; 99% CI 1.31 to 1.78), indicating delayed language development. Intergroup differences in other outcomes were minimal. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic may have negatively influenced early neurodevelopment, particularly language acquisition. These findings suggest that infant language development is affected by social changes, such as pandemics. Further research is required to explore the underlying causes and the long-term effects.