STUDY | NO. OF PARTICIPANTS | AGE AT EVALUATION | MAIN EXPOSURE | FINDINGS | LEVEL OF EVIDENCE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Most recent | |||||
• Kaltenbach et al,27 2018 | 96 | Birth to 3 y | Methadone or buprenorphine | Normal physical, cognitive, language, sensory, and behavioural development | III |
Population-based | |||||
• Skovlund et al,15 2017 | Cohort of 892 | 3 y | Opioids | Trend toward effect of analgesic opioid use during pregnancy on childhood language development and communication | II |
Longitudinal case series* | 45 to 78 | Opioids (mainly heroin) | |||
• Nygaard et al,12 2017 | 17–21 y | Cognitive and fine-motor functions below those of peers | II | ||
• Nygaard et al,11 2015 | 1–8.5 y | Cognition below peers | II | ||
• Walhovd et al,14 2007 | 11.3 y | Lower neuroanatomical volumes than those of peers | II | ||
• Slinning, 200413 | 1–4.5 y | Cognitive and motor deficits compared with peers; impulsivity and attention-related problems | II | ||
• Moe, 200210 | 1–4.5 y | Development assessments scored below peers; specific weakness in visual-motor abilities | II | ||
• Moe and Slinning,9 2001 | 1–3 y | Development assessments scored below peers | II | ||
Case-control studies | |||||
• Konijnenberg and Melinder,17 2015 | 35 | 4 y | OMT | Short-term memory, inhibition, and executive function below peers | II |
• Konijnenberg and Melinder,16 2013 | 15 | 4 y | OMT | Difficulty using proactive goal-directed eye movements | II |
• Melinder et al,18 2013 | 26 | 4 y | OMT | Behavioural and visual-motor deficits compared with peers | II |
• Wahlsten and Sarman,24 2013 | 25 | 6 y | Opioids | Problems with motor skills, memory, hyperactivity, impulsivity, and attention | III |
• Salo et al,20 2009 | 21 | Birth to 3 y | Buprenorphine | Developmental deficits compared with peers | II |
• Hunt et al,22 2008 | 133 | 18 mo and 3 y | Methadone | Delays in mental, motor, and social development compared with peers | II |
• Messinger et al,21 2004 | 50 | 3 y | Opioids | No cognitive delay at 3 y | II |
• Hans and Jeremy,23 2001 | 33 | Birth to 2 y | Opioids (mainly methadone) | Delay in mental development and motor functioning compared with peers | II |
• Ornoy et al,19 2001 | 65 | 5 to 12 y | Heroin, OMT | Higher levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and behaviour problems than peers | II |
Meta-analysis | |||||
• Baldacchino et al,25 2014 | NA | Birth to 12 y | Opioids | Impairments in cognitive, psychomotor, and behavioural development compared with peers | I |
Expert panel | |||||
• Reddy et al,26 2017 | NA | From birth throughout childhood | Opioids | No consensus on the long-term effects of in utero opioid exposure on development; evidence is inconsistent | III |
NA—not applicable, OMT—opioid maintenance therapy.
↵* These 6 studies comprise a longitudinal case series following the same cohort from birth to 17–21 years of age.