Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of Preterm Infants Conceived by Assisted Reproductive Technology.

ABSTRACT Background There have been concerns about potential adverse consequences of assisted reproductive technology on the development of children conceived in this way. Despite multiple studies investigating the outcomes of assisted conception, data focusing specifically on the neurodevelopmental outcomes of infants conceived with assisted reproductive technology and born preterm are limited. Objective To evaluate and compare the neurodevelopmental outcomes at 18 to 24 months’ corrected age of preterm infants born Study design This retrospective cohort study included inborn, non-anomalous infants, born at Results Of the 4863 eligible neonates, 651 (13.4%) were conceived using assisted reproductive technology. Maternal age; education level; and rates of diabetes, receipt of antenatal corticosteroids, and cesarean section were higher in the assisted reproduction group compared to the natural conception group. Neonatal morbidity and death rates were similar except for intraventricular hemorrhage, which was lower in the assisted reproduction group [181/546 (33%) vs 1284/3318(39%)], P = 0.01). Of the 4176 surviving infants, 3386 (81%) had follow up outcome at 18 to 24 months’ corrected age. Multivariable logistic regression adjusting for gestational age, antenatal steroids, sex, small for gestational age, multiple gestations, mode of delivery, maternal age, maternal education, pregnancy-induced hypertension, maternal diabetes, and smoking showed that infants conceived through assisted reproduction was associated with lower odds of neurodevelopmental impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.52-0.86) and the composite of death or neurodevelopmental impairment (adjusted odds ratio, 0.67; 95% confidence interval, 0.54-0.84). Being conceived through assisted reproductive technology was associated with decreased odds of a Bayley-III composite cognitive score Conclusions Compared with natural conception, assisted conception was associated with lower odds of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, especially cognitive and language outcomes, at 18 to 24 months’ corrected age among preterm infants born