Acetaminophen use during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes: Evidence from the MoBa population-based birth cohort

Le résumé fourni par la source

Acetaminophen (paracetamol) is widely recommended as a first-line treatment for pain and fever during pregnancy. In recent years, however, concerns have grown regarding its potential effects on foetal neurodevelopment, fuelled in part by public statements and media commentaries suggesting a possible link to conditions such as autism1. Considering that untreated maternal fever and significant pain are themselves associated with neurodevelopmental traits and conditions in children2,3, it is essential to evaluate the scientific evidence. Despite extensive epidemiological research on the neurodevelopmental safety of prenatal acetaminophen exposure, the evidence remains inconsistent4-6. A major source of uncertainty in studies of prenatal acetaminophen exposure arises from key methodological challenges, including exposure and outcome misclassification, and confounding by indication7. Additionally, observed associations between prenatal acetaminophen use and child neurodevelopment may partly reflect familial factors and the effects of the underlying health condition rather than the medication itself 8. In the proposed project, we will leverage data from population-based birth cohorts, linked with national health and administrative registries, to investigate the relationship between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and offspring neurodevelopmental outcomes. By combining multiple data sources for exposure and outcome definition and applying a combination of observational and genetically informed study designs, we aim to determine whether any associations reflect a causal effect or arise from different sources of bias.

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