key: cord-0835736-j21by1kf
authors: Malamitsi‐Puchner, Ariadne; Briana, Despina D.; Giudice, Linda; Di Renzo, Gian Carlo
title: Could children born to mothers with COVID‐19 be more prone to non‐communicable diseases?
date: 2021-01-26
journal: Acta Paediatr
DOI: 10.1111/apa.15757
sha: 0d33a91afd2c0b0592a12a8f38852f25446f169c
doc_id: 835736
cord_uid: j21by1kf

Although COVID-19 tends to affect older people more severely, women of reproductive age are not spared. Based on perinatal COVID-19 data we express concerns about theoretical adverse consequences particularly to the offspring, in the framework of non-communicable diseases, which develop slowly across the life-course. The trajectory of risk commences early, in adolescence and the pre/peri-conceptional period to the first years of life.

Although COVID-19 tends to affect older people more severely, Feeding difficulties and diarrhoea in the neonate may point to dysbiosis, while lack of breastfeeding, as suggested in some studies, can alter a healthy microbiome and may contribute to short-term and long-term non-communicable diseases.

As the case with other maternal viral infections during pregnancy (eg H1N1), possible neuropsychiatric and behavioural disorders in the offspring of COVID-19-infected mothers could be long-term outcomes 4 falling into the spectrum of non-communicable diseases.

Taken that the non-communicable disease perspective of COVID-19-infected mother/infant dyads is still hypothetical, there is an urgent need for long-term follow-up studies.

Moreover, stressful conditions due to the harsh socio-economic consequences of COVID-19, applying particularly to deprived families, may aggravate the worldwide incidence of non-communicable diseases. 

with childhood obesity in their offspring

Maternal and neonatal outcomes associated with COVID-19 infection: a systematic review

Maternal immune responses and obstetrical outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and possible health risks of offspring

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