WIP 70 - Neurodevelopmental Outcomes in Children Ages 3-8 Years Previously Treated for Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome: The Effect of Maternal Prenatal Addiction Management

Poster Number: WIP 70
Publication Number: WIP 70.2586

Background: Opioid use and related deaths have dramatically increased in the US since the 1990s. Correspondingly, there has been a significant increase in cases of Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) associated with opioid use during pregnancy. Significant neurobehavioral consequences of in utero opioid exposure have been documented.

Objective: To compare neurodevelopmental outcomes of children treated for NOWS whose mothers received medication-assisted treatment (MAT) during pregnancy versus children whose mothers did not receive MAT and had documented use of illicit addictive substances during pregnancy.

Design/Methods: We are conducting a prospective cohort study of children ages 3-8 years previously treated at our institution for NOWS. One cohort was born to mothers who received MAT during pregnancy and the second to mothers who used non-prescribed addictive drugs during pregnancy. After informed consent, neurodevelopmental testing is administered on secure iPads using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox Cognition Battery. Caregivers are administered the NIH Toolbox Parent Proxy Emotion Battery. Outcomes will be compared between study cohorts as well as between all study participants and national averages provided by the NIH Toolbox after correction for variables including participant’s age, sex, race, ethnicity, and caregiver’s education. Because of the small sample size, groups will be compared with medians and Mann-Whittney U test. We received IRB approval and have been enrolling patients since February 2023. We have currently completed testing with twelve child/caregiver dyads and plan to enroll 20 (10 in each cohort).