T Fjørtoft1, M Brandal2, A M Brubakk3, L Adde4, T Ustad4, R Vågen2, K A I Evensen5. 1. Clinic of Clinical Services, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. Electronic address: toril.fjortoft@ntnu.no. 2. Clinic of Clinical Services, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway. 3. Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Pediatrics, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Norway. 4. Clinic of Clinical Services, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. 5. Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway; Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Norway; Unit for Physiotherapy Services, Trondheim Municipality, Norway; Department of Physiotherapy, Oslo Metropolitan University, Oslo, Norway.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Exposure of alcohol and/or other addictive drugs in pregnancy is a documented risk factor for later neurological impairment. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine whether infants suffering from prenatal exposure to addictive drugs and alcohol develop an abnormal motor behaviour at three to four months of age. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled cohort study of infants exposed to alcohol and/or other addictive drugs in pregnancy who were recruited from a hospital follow-up programme. The control group consisted of healthy, unexposed infants. SUBJECTS: The study group of 108 infants exposed to alcohol and/or addictive drugs in pregnancy were enrolled based on referrals from primary health care. The control group included 106 infants who had not been exposed to the aforementioned substances. OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the general movements (Prechtl's General-Movement-Assessment, GMA), the motor repertoire (Assessment-of-Motor-Repertoire, AMR), and the Alberta-Infant Motor-Scale (AIMS) in all infants at three to four months of age. RESULTS: None of the infants in either group had absent fidgety movements (FMs). In the study group 5(5%) had exaggerated FMs and 5(5%) had sporadic FMs; and 68(63%) infants in the study group displayed an abnormal movement character, compared to 23(22%) in the control group (p<0.001). On the AIMS, 46(44%) infants in the study group scored below the 10th percentile, compared to 2(3%) controls (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study describes an abnormal movement character of infants exposed to alcohol and/or addictive drugs in pregnancy when their motor repertoire was assessed at three to four months of age. The AIMS also showed negative effects on their motor behaviour.
BACKGROUND: Exposure of alcohol and/or other addictive drugs in pregnancy is a documented risk factor for later neurological impairment. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine whether infants suffering from prenatal exposure to addictive drugs and alcohol develop an abnormal motor behaviour at three to four months of age. STUDY DESIGN: Controlled cohort study of infants exposed to alcohol and/or other addictive drugs in pregnancy who were recruited from a hospital follow-up programme. The control group consisted of healthy, unexposed infants. SUBJECTS: The study group of 108 infants exposed to alcohol and/or addictive drugs in pregnancy were enrolled based on referrals from primary health care. The control group included 106 infants who had not been exposed to the aforementioned substances. OUTCOME MEASURES: We assessed the general movements (Prechtl's General-Movement-Assessment, GMA), the motor repertoire (Assessment-of-Motor-Repertoire, AMR), and the Alberta-Infant Motor-Scale (AIMS) in all infants at three to four months of age. RESULTS: None of the infants in either group had absent fidgety movements (FMs). In the study group 5(5%) had exaggerated FMs and 5(5%) had sporadic FMs; and 68(63%) infants in the study group displayed an abnormal movement character, compared to 23(22%) in the control group (p<0.001). On the AIMS, 46(44%) infants in the study group scored below the 10th percentile, compared to 2(3%) controls (p< 0.001). CONCLUSION: The study describes an abnormal movement character of infants exposed to alcohol and/or addictive drugs in pregnancy when their motor repertoire was assessed at three to four months of age. The AIMS also showed negative effects on their motor behaviour.
Authors: Carly R Luke; Katherine Benfer; Leeann Mick-Ramsamy; Robert S Ware; Natasha Reid; Arend F Bos; Margot Bosanquet; Roslyn N Boyd Journal: BMJ Open Date: 2022-01-07 Impact factor: 2.692