Antenatal low-dose aspirin exposure has no bearing on neurodevelopmental outcomes of offspring

Babies born to mothers who were exposed to low-dose aspirin during pregnancy do not appear to have altered neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 3 years, according to a study.

The study included 640 children between age 33 and 39 months whose mothers had been randomly assigned to receive low-dose aspirin (81 mg) or placebo daily between 6 and 14 weeks of gestation through 37 weeks.

Researchers assessed neurodevelopment using the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development 3rd Edition (Bayley-III) and the Ages and Stages Questionnaire 3rd Edition (ASQ-3). The Bayley-III cognitive composite score was the primary outcome, and a difference of within 4 points in the score indicated noninferiority.

Of the children, 329 were born to mothers in the low-dose aspirin group and 311 to mothers in the placebo group. The Bayley-III cognitive composite score did not significantly differ between the two groups, with the adjusted mean difference of −0.8 (95 percent confidence interval [CI], −2.2 to 0.60) demonstrating noninferiority.

Likewise, no significant between-group differences were observed in the language composite score (difference, 0.7, 95 percent CI, −0.8 to 2.1) and the motor composite score (difference, −0.6, 95 percent CI, −2.5 to 1.2).

The proportion of children who had any component of the Bayley-III score lower than 70 was similar in the low-dose aspirin and placebo groups. The same was true for the communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal–social components of the ASQ-3.

Finally, the two groups were similar in terms of maternal characteristics, delivery outcomes, breastfeeding rates, breastfeeding duration, and home environment as measured by the Family Care Indicators.