Development of Preterm Infants Born During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This study aims to evaluate differences in cognitive and psychomotor development among preterm infants (born before 34 weeks of gestation) delivered during the COVID-19 pandemic at Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, compared with a control group of preterm infants born at the same hospital.

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Key information

Conditions

Preterm Infant Development COVID - 19 COVID-19 Coronaviridae Infections Coronavirus Infections Infections Lung Diseases Nidovirales Infections Pneumonia Pneumonia, Viral RNA Virus Infections Respiratory Tract Diseases Respiratory Tract Infections Virus Diseases

Age range

Up to 5 year

Sex eligibility

All sexes

Study type

Observational

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: No

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

Preterm babies (<34 weeks of gestation) born between March 2020 and December 2021 for case group).
Preterm babies (<34 weeks of gestation) born between January 2023 to December 2024 (control group).
Babies who were admitted to the NICU of the Hospital de Sant Pau.
Babies who were followed up in External Consultations of the same hospital at least until their first year of age.

Exclusion criteria

Preterm infants ≥34 weeks or preterm born outside the periods described in the inclusion criteria.
Concurrent diagnosis of genetic pathology or major malformations.
Families who discontinued follow-up or did not attend scheduled appointments.

Treatment and study plan

Evaluation of cognitive and psychomotor development through the Bayley Scales Of Infant and Toddler Development and Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence

Diagnostic Test

Comparative and longitudinal study of development

Primary outcomes

Bayley Scales Of Infant and Toddler Development

Time frame: All scores on this scale will be collected at the following ages for every child: - 3 months - 6 months - 12 months - 18 months - 24 months

It aims to evaluate the child's level of development in different areas. Through structured tasks and materials but in a playful format, it allows to obtain a global score of cognitive, motor and language development.

From the direct scores of the scale, it is possible to obtain scalar, composite and percentile scores. The scaled scores are calculated from the direct scores of each test. They have an average of 10 and a standard deviation of 3. They represent the child's performance in relation to children of his same age. The composite scores are typical scores obtained from scales with a mean of 100 and a standard deviation of 15. From these, the corresponding percentiles can be obtained in the tables included in the manual.
Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence

Time frame: All scores on this scale will be collected at the following ages for every child: - 3 years old - 5 years old

It allows a complete measurement of the subject's cognitive abilities. Through structured tasks, standardized scores are obtained for the overall cognitive capacity, as well as for the verbal, manipulative, processing speed and general language indices. In this study we will collect typical scores, composites and percentiles of each of the subtests and indexes of the Scale. For this, based on the direct scores of each subtest, the typical scores are obtained whose mean is 10 and standard deviation 3. These scores allow inter-individual comparison. On the other hand, with several subtests the composite scores are formed, which correspond to the indices of the WPPSI-III (Verbal CI, Manipulative CI, Processing Speed, General Language and Total CI). The composite scores are converted to a scale of mean 100 and standard deviation of 15. In addition, the WPPSI-III offers percentiles for the scores of the subtests and for the indices.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Fundació Institut de Recerca de l'Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Estudio Del Desarrollo de Los niños Prematuros Nacidos Durante la Pandemia Por el COVID-19

Important dates

Study start: 2026
Primary completion: 2029
Study completion: 2029
First posted: May 6, 2026
Registry last updated: May 11, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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