Long-Term Impairment Attributable To Congenital Cytomegalovirus Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study

AIM This study aimed to estimate long-term impairment attributable to congenital cytomegalovirus infection (cCMV).METHOD This nationwide cohort study retrospectively assessed cCMV in children born in 2008 in the Netherlands, testing 31 484 stored neonatal dried blood spots. Extensive medical data of cCMV-positive children (n=133) and matched cCMV-negative comparison children (n=274) up to 6 years of age were analysed.RESULTS Moderate to severe long-term impairment was diagnosed in 24.8% (33 out of 133) of all cCMV-positive children (53.8% in symptomatic, 17.8% in asymptomatic), compared with 12.0% (33 out of 274) of cCMV-negative children. Sensorineural hearing loss was seen only in five cCMV-positive children (3.8%). Developmental delays were diagnosed more often in cCMV-positive children than cCMV-negative children: motor (12.0% vs 1.5%), cognitive (6.0% vs 1.1%), and speech-language (16.5% vs 7.3%). Long-term impairment in multiple domains was more frequent in symptomatic (19.2%) and asymptomatic (8.4%) cCMV-positive children than cCMV-negative children (1.8%).INTERPRETATION Children with cCMV were twice as likely to have long-term impairment up to the age of 6 years, especially developmental delays and sensorineural hearing loss, than cCMV-negative comparison children, with a risk difference of 12.8%. These insights into the risk of cCMV-associated impairment can help optimize care and stimulate preventive measures.