Forbes November 5, 2025
COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with a slightly higher rate of autism and other developmental disorders in infants, according to a new study. The increased risk was most notable if maternal infection occurred during the third trimester and was more prevalent among male offspring. Despite the observed increase, the researchers emphasize that the overall risk is low.
The retrospective study was published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology. Researchers evaluated the health outcomes of 18,124 children born between March 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021. About 5% (861) of the infants were born to women who had COVID-19 during pregnancy. By 36 months of age, 16.3% of these children had received a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, compared to approximately 10% of unexposed...
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