Maternal Mental Health in Pregnancy and Its Impact on Children's Cognitive Development at 18 Months, during the COVID-19 Pandemic (CONCEPTION Study).

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected the mental health of pregnant persons. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to evaluate the impact of maternal mental health and antidepressant use on children's cognitive development. METHODS: We followed a cohort of children born during the COVID-19 pandemic. Maternal mental health was self-reported during pregnancy (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7, stress levels, and antidepressant use). The child's cognitive development was measured using the third edition of the Ages & Stages Questionnaires® (ASQ-3) at 18 months. Multivariate multinomial logistic regression models were built to assess the association between in utero exposure to maternal mental health and ASQ-3 domains: communication, gross motor, fine motor, problem-solving, and personal-social. RESULTS: Overall, 472 children were included in our analyses. After adjusting for potential confounders, a need for further assessment in communication (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 12.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) (1.60;92.4)), and for improvement in gross motricity (aOR 6.33, 95%CI (2.06;19.4)) were associated with in utero anxiety. The need for improvement in fine motricity (aOR 4.11, 95%CI (1.00; 16.90)) was associated with antidepressant exposure. In utero depression was associated with a decrease in the need for improvement in problem solving (aOR 0.48, 95%CI (0.24; 0.98)). CONCLUSIONS: During the COVID-19 pandemic, maternal mental health appears to be associated with some aspects of children's cognitive development.

Survival of Patients With Head and Neck Merkel Cell Cancer: Findings From the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative.

Importance: Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma. Due to its relatively low incidence and limited prospective trials, current recommendations are guided by historical single-institution retrospective studies. Objective: To evaluate the overall survival (OS) of patients in Canada with head and neck MCC (HNMCC) according to American Joint Committee on Cancer 8th edition staging and treatment modalities. Design, Setting, and Participants: A retrospective cohort study of 400 patients with a diagnosis of HNMCC between July 1, 2000, and June 31, 2018, was conducted using the Pan-Canadian Merkel Cell Cancer Collaborative, a multicenter national registry of patients with MCC. Statistical analyses were performed from January to December 2022. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was 5-year OS. Multivariable analysis using a Cox proportional hazards regression model was performed to identify factors associated with survival. Results: Between 2000 and 2018, 400 patients (234 men [58.5%]; mean [SD] age at diagnosis, 78.4 [10.5] years) with malignant neoplasms found in the face, scalp, neck, ear, eyelid, or lip received a diagnosis of HNMCC. At diagnosis, 188 patients (47.0%) had stage I disease. The most common treatment overall was surgery followed by radiotherapy (161 [40.3%]), although radiotherapy alone was most common for stage IV disease (15 of 23 [52.2%]). Five-year OS was 49.8% (95% CI, 40.7%-58.2%), 39.8% (95% CI, 26.2%-53.1%), 36.2% (95% CI, 25.2%-47.4%), and 18.5% (95% CI, 3.9%-41.5%) for stage I, II, III, and IV disease, respectively, and was highest among patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy (49.9% [95% CI, 39.9%-59.1%]). On multivariable analysis, patients treated with surgery and radiotherapy had greater OS compared with those treated with surgery alone (hazard ratio [HR], 0.76 [95% CI, 0.46-1.25]); however, this was not statistically significant. In comparison, patients who received no treatment had significantly worse OS (HR, 1.93 [95% CI, 1.26-2.96)]. Conclusions and Relevance: In this cohort study of the largest Canada-wide evaluation of HNMCC survival outcomes, stage and treatment modality were associated with survival. Multimodal treatment was associated with greater OS across all disease stages.

The impact of prenatal maternal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic on birth outcomes: two nested case-control studies within the CONCEPTION cohort.

OBJECTIVE: Assess the association between prenatal mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic and preterm birth (PTB; delivery < 37 weeks gestation) and low birth weight (LBW; < 2500 g). METHODS: Pregnant individuals, > 18 years, were recruited in Canada and provided data through a web-based questionnaire. We analyzed data on persons recruited between 06/2020 and 08/2021 who completed questionnaires while pregnant and 2 months post-partum. Data on maternal sociodemographics, comorbidities, medication use, mental health (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale, General Anxiety Disorder-7, stress), pandemic hardship (CONCEPTION-Assessment of Stress from COVID-19), and on gestational age at delivery and birth weight were self-reported. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence interval (95%CI) were calculated to quantify the association between PTB/LBW and maternal mental health. RESULTS: A total of 1265 and 1233 participants were included in the analyses of PTB and LBW, respectively. No associations were observed between PTB and prenatal mental health (depression [aOR 1.01, 95%CI 0.91-1.11], anxiety [aOR 1.04, 95%CI 0.93-1.17], stress [aOR 0.88, 95%CI 0.71-1.10], or hardship [aOR 1.00, 95%CI 0.96-1.04]) after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk of PTB was increased with non-white ethnicity/race (aOR 3.85, 95%CI 1.35-11.00), consistent with the literature. Similar findings were observed for LBW (depression [aOR 1.03, 95%CI 0.96-1.13], anxiety [aOR 1.05, 95%CI 0.95-1.17], COVID stress [aOR 0.92, 95%CI 0.77-1.09], or overall hardship [aOR 0.97, 95%CI 0.94-1.01]). CONCLUSION: No association was found between prenatal mental health nor hardship during the COVID-19 pandemic and the risk of PTB or LBW. However, it is imperative to continue the follow-up of mothers and their offspring to detect long-term health problems early.

RéSUMé: OBJECTIF: Évaluer l'association entre la santé mentale prénatale pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 et les naissances prématurées (accouchement < 37 semaines de gestation) et les faibles poids à la naissance (< 2 500 g). MéTHODES: Des personnes enceintes de plus de 18 ans ont été recrutées au Canada et ont fourni des données prénatales via un questionnaire en ligne. Nous avons analysé les données des personnes recrutées entre 06/2020 et 08/2021, ayant rempli deux questionnaires dont un pendant la grossesse et un 2 mois post-partum. Les données sur les caractéristiques sociodémographiques maternelles, les comorbidités, l'utilisation de médicaments, la santé mentale (Échelle de dépression postnatale d'Édimbourg [EPDS], trouble anxieux généralisé-7 [GAD-7], stress), les difficultés liées à la pandémie (CONCEPTION­Évaluation du stress lié à la COVID-19) ainsi que l'âge gestationnel à l'accouchement et le poids à la naissance ont été auto-déclarées. Les rapports de cotes bruts et ajustés (aRC) avec un intervalle de confiance à 95% (IC 95%) ont été calculés pour quantifier l'association entre la prématurité/petit poids à la naissance et la santé mentale maternelle. RéSULTATS: Un total de 1 265 et 1 233 participants ont été inclus dans les analyses de NP et de FPN, respectivement. Aucune association n'a été observée entre la prématurité et la santé mentale prénatale (dépression [aRC 1,01, IC 95% 0,91­1,11], anxiété [aOR 1,04, IC 95% 0,93­1,17], stress [aRC 0,88, IC 95% 0,71­1,10], ni difficultés liées à la COVID-19 [aOR 1,00, IC 95% 0,96­1,04]) après ajustement pour les facteurs de confusion potentiels. Le risque de prématurité était plus élevé chez les personnes d'ethnie/race non blanche (aRC 3,85, IC 95% 1,35­11,00), en accord avec la littérature. Des résultats similaires ont été observés pour le faible poids à la naissance (dépression [aRC 1,03, IC 95% 0,96­1,13], anxiété [aRC 1,05, IC 95% 0,95­1,17], stress lié à la COVID [aRC 0,92, IC 95% 0,77­1,09], ou difficultés en lien avec la COVID-19 [aRC 0,97, IC 95% 0,94­1,01]). CONCLUSION: Aucune association n'a été trouvée entre la santé mentale prénatale ni les difficultés pendant la pandémie de COVID-19 et le risque de prématurité ou de petit poids à la naissance. Cependant, il est impératif de poursuivre le suivi des mères et de leurs enfants pour détecter précocement d'éventuels problèmes de santé à long terme.

The Impact of COVID-19 on Maternal Mental Health during Pregnancy: A Comparison between Canada and China within the CONCEPTION Cohort.

The effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health has been described in Canada and China but no study has compared the two countries using the same standardized and validated instruments. In this study, we aimed to evaluate and compare the impact of COVID-19 public health policies on maternal mental health between Canada and China, as we hypothesize that geographical factors and different COVID-19 policies are likely to influence maternal mental health. Pregnant persons >18 years old were recruited in Canada and China using a web-based strategy. All participants recruited between 26 June 2020 and 16 February 2021 were analyzed. Self-reported data included sociodemographic variables, COVID-19 experience and maternal mental health assessments (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7) scale, stress and satisfaction with life). Analyses were stratified by recruitment cohort, namely: Canada 1 (26 June 2020-10 October 2020), Canada 2 and China (11 October 2020-16 February 2021). Overall, 2423 participants were recruited, with 1804 participants within Canada 1, 135 within Canada 2 and 484 in China. The mean EDPS scores were 8.1 (SD, 5.1) in Canada 1, 8.1 (SD, 5.2) in Canada 2 and 7.7 (SD, 4.9) in China (p-value Canada 2/China: p = 0.005). The mean GAD-7 scores were 2.6 (SD, 2.9) in China, 4.3 (SD, 3.8) in Canada 1 (p < 0.001) and 5.8 (SD, 5.2) in Canada 2 (p < 0.001). When adjusting for stress and anxiety, being part of the Chinese cohort significantly increased the chances of having maternal depression by over threefold (adjusted OR 3.20, 95%CI 1.77-5.78). Canadian and Chinese participants reported depressive scores nearly double those of other crises and non-pandemic periods. Lockdowns and reopening periods have an important impact on levels of depression and anxiety among pregnant persons.

Is in-utero exposure to cannabis associated with the risk of attention deficit with or without hyperactivity disorder? A cohort study within the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort.

IMPORTANCE AND OBJECTIVE: Prenatal cannabis effect on attention deficit with or without hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) remains to be determined. Our aim is to quantify the impact of in-utero exposure to cannabis on the risk of ADHD. DESIGN: Cohort study. SETTING: Questionnaires were mailed to women sampled from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort (QPC). Data from questionnaires were then linked with their QPC (built with administrative health databases, hospital patient charts and birth certificate databases). PARTICIPANTS: Respondents who gave birth to a singleton live born between January 1998 and December 2003 and were continuously enrolled in the Régie de l'assurance maladie du Québec (RAMQ) medication insurance plan for at least 12 months before the first day of gestation and during pregnancy. EXPOSURE: In-utero cannabis exposure was based on mothers' answers to the question on cannabis use during pregnancy (yes/no) and categorised as occasionally, regularly exposed and unexposed if they chose one of these categories. OUTCOMES: ADHD was defined by a diagnosis of ADHD through the RAMQ medical services or MedEcho databases or a prescription filled for ADHD medication through RAMQ pharmaceutical services between birth and the end of the follow-up period. Follow-up started at the birth and ended at the index date (first diagnosis or prescription filled for ADHD), child death (censoring), end of public coverage for medications (censoring) or the end of study period, which was December 2015 (censoring), whichever event came first. RESULTS: A total of 2408 children met the inclusion criteria. Of these children, 86 (3.6%) were exposed to cannabis in-utero and 241 (10.0%) had an ADHD diagnosis or medication filled. After adjustments for potential confounders, no significant association was found between in-utero cannabis exposure (occasional (1.22 (95% CI 0.63 to 2.19)) or regular (1.22 (95% CI 0.42 to 2.79))) and the risk of ADHD in children. CONCLUSIONS: In-utero exposure to cannabis seemed to not be associated with the risk ADHD in children.

The COVID-19 Pandemic Impacted Maternal Mental Health Differently Depending on Pregnancy Status and Trimester of Gestation.

Introduction: We aimed to measure the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on maternal mental health, stratifying on pregnancy status, trimester of gestation, and pandemic period/wave. Methods: Pregnant persons and persons who delivered in Canada during the pandemic, >18 years, were recruited, and data were collected using a web-based strategy. The current analysis includes data on persons enrolled between 06/2020−08/2021. Maternal sociodemographic indicators, mental health measures (Edinburgh Perinatal Depression Scale (EPDS), Generalized Anxiety Disorders (GAD-7), stress) were self-reported. Maternal mental health in pregnant women (stratified by trimester, and pandemic period/wave at recruitment) was compared with the mental health of women who had delivered; determinants of severe depression were identified with multivariate logistic regression models. Results: 2574 persons were pregnant and 626 had already delivered at recruitment. Participants who had delivered had significantly higher mean depressive symptom scores compared to those pregnant at recruitment (9.1 (SD, 5.7) vs. 8.4 (SD, 5.3), p = 0.009). Maternal anxiety (aOR 1.51; 95%CI 1.44−1.59) and stress (aOR 1.35; 95%CI 1.24−1.48) were the most significant predictors of severe maternal depression (EDPS ˃ 13) in pregnancy. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on maternal depression during pregnancy and in the post-partum period. Given that gestational depression/anxiety/stress has been associated with preterm birth and childhood cognitive problems, it is essential to continue following women/children, and develop strategies to reduce COVID-19's longer-term impact.