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Am J Perinatol 2019; 36(09): 949-954
DOI: 10.1055/s-0038-1675159
Original Article
Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Infertility Treatments and Long-Term Neurologic Morbidity of the Offspring

Shai Levin
1   Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Eyal Sheiner
2   Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Tamar Wainstock
3   Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Asnat Walfisch
2   Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Idit Segal
4   Department of Medical Affairs, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel
,
Daniella Landau
5   Department of Neonatology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Ruslan Sergienko
3   Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Eliahu Levitas
2   Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
,
Avi Harlev
2   Fertility and IVF Unit, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

27 January 2018

05 September 2018

Publication Date:
16 November 2018 (online)

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Abstract

Objective To determine the risk of long-term neurologic morbidity among children (up to 18 years) born following in vitro fertilization (IVF) or ovulation induction (OI) treatments as compared with spontaneously conceived.

Study Design A population-based cohort analysis was performed, including data from the perinatal computerized database on all singleton infants born at the Soroka University Medical Center (SUMC) between the years 1991 and 2014. This perinatal database was linked and cross-matched with the SUMC computerized dataset of all pediatric hospitalizations.

Results Neurologic morbidity was significantly more common in IVF (3.7%) and OI (4.1%) offspring as compared with those following spontaneous pregnancies (3.1%; p = 0.017). In particular, attention deficit/hyperactivity disorders and headaches were more common in the OI group and sleep disorders in the IVF group, whereas autism and cerebral palsy were comparable between the groups. In the Weibull multivariable analysis, while controlling for maternal age, preterm delivery, birthweight centile, maternal diabetes, and hypertensive disorders, IVF (adjusted hazard ratio [HR]: 1.40; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.14–1.71; p = 0.001), but not OI (adjusted HR: 1.17' 95% CI: 0.92–1.48; p = 0.196), was noted as an independent risk factor for long-term pediatric neurologic morbidity.

Conclusion IVF offspring appear to be at an increased risk of long-term neurologic morbidity up to 18 years of age.

Keywords

long-term pediatric neurologic morbidity - fertility treatments - in vitro fertilization - ovulation induction

Note

This study was conducted as part of the MD requirements for graduation from the Medical School of the Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel.


Supplementary Material

 

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