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Maternal obesity and increased risk for autism and developmental delay among very preterm infants

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 688–692 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

Thirty-five percent of women of child-bearing age are obese, and there is evidence that maternal obesity may increase the risk for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome. However, research regarding obesity and neurodevelopment among children born preterm is limited. This study aimed to determine associations between maternal obesity and neurodevelopment in very preterm children at age 2 years.

Study Design:

Maternal/infant dyads (n=62) born ⩽30 weeks gestation were enrolled in a prospective cohort study at a level-III neonatal intensive care unit. Mothers were classified as obese or non-obese based on pre-pregnancy body mass index. Infants underwent magnetic resonance imaging at term equivalent and developmental testing at age 2. Maternal obesity was investigated for associations with neurodevelopment.

Result:

Maternal obesity was associated with positive screen for autism (odds ratio=9.88, P=0.002) and lower composite language scores (β=−9.36, (confidence interval=−15.11, −3.61), P=0.002).

Conclusion:

Maternal obesity was associated with adverse neurodevelopmental outcome at age 2 in this cohort of very preterm children. This study requires replication, but may support targeted surveillance of infants born to women with maternal obesity.

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Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge Karen Lukas RN (Washington University School of Medicine), Anthony Barton (Washington University School of Medicine), Jessica Conners (Washington University School of Medicine), Dimitrios Alexopolous MS (Washington University School of Medicine), Joe Ackerman, Jr (Washington University School of Medicine), Claudine Vavasseur MD (National Maternity Hospital, Dublin Ireland) and Han Tjoeng MD (University of Hawaii) who obtained informed consents and conducted patient-oriented responsibilities to support the success of this project. We also wish to thank all the families whose infants participated in this study. This project was supported by the National Institute of Health (ROI HD 057098), the Doris Duke Foundation, the Washington University Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center (NIH/NICHD P30 HD062171), and the UL1 TR000448, sub award KL2 TR000450 from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA

    L C Reynolds & C E Rogers

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA,

    L C Reynolds, T E Inder, R G Pineda & C E Rogers

  3. Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA,

    T E Inder & J J Neil

  4. Department of Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA,

    T E Inder & J J Neil

  5. Program in Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, USA

    R G Pineda

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  1. L C Reynolds
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Correspondence to L C Reynolds.

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Reynolds, L., Inder, T., Neil, J. et al. Maternal obesity and increased risk for autism and developmental delay among very preterm infants. J Perinatol 34, 688–692 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2014.80

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