Impact of maternal hypertensive disorders on offspring's neurodevelopment: a longitudinal prospective cohort study in China

Background Maternal hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) are the major causes of maternal mortality. However, the association between HDP and offspring's neurodevelopment remains unclear. Method Participants were 4031 singleton live births from a prospective cohort study in Wuhan, China, during October 2013 to October 2014. Neurodevelopment of infant was evaluated by using Chinese version of Gesell Developmental Schedules at 0.5 year of age. Maternal HDP and potential confounders were ascertained by healthcare records at baseline. Results Generalized linear model analysis indicated that maternal chronic hypertension were significantly associated with development quotient on fine motor (beta = -3.32, 95% CI: -6.33 to -0.31), adaptability (beta = -2.87, 95% CI: -5.31 to -0.43), language (beta = -1.23, 95% CI: -2.12 to -0.34) and social behavior (beta = -2.53, 95% CI: -4.69 to -0.37), and gestational hypertension was significantly associated with development quotient on social behavior (beta = -1.42, 95% CI: -2.03 to -0.81), even after adjustment of major confounders. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that maternal chronic hypertension also increased the risk of diagnosis of "neurodevelopmental delay" on fine motor (OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.19-2.89), adaptability (OR = 2.32, 95% CI: 1.42-3.78), language (OR = 2.86, 95% CI: 1.74-4.70), and social behavior (OR = 2.13, 95% CI: 1.73-2.59). Conclusion This study suggests that exposure to HDP is associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopment impairment in the offspring at the age of 0.5 year.