{
  "abstract": "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 NoneMain 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.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Yuki Kyono"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Masahiro Nishiyama"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Hiroshi Yamaguchi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Aoi Kawamura"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Shizuka Oikawa"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Shoichi Tokumoto"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical and Translational Research Center, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Takumi Imai"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Clinical and Translational Research Center, Kobe University Hospital, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Sae Murakami"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Kandai Nozu"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Kobe City Child and Family Bureau, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Hiroki Mishina"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Department of Pediatrics, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, Kobe, Japan"
      ],
      "name": "Hiroaki Nagase"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant neurodevelopmental outcomes",
  "uid": "d8d66c93-00c1-5c51-8e6a-d83ee2b83fc9"
}