Prenatal opioid exposure increase long-term impact on immunity in pediatric population: JAMA

A recent retrospective study published in the Journal of American Medical Association unveiled a concerning association between prenatal opioid exposure (POE) and the alterations in the fetal immune system that potentially affect the long-term health of exposed children. This study encompassing health records of a vast cohort of 401,462 children born between 2003 and 2018 in the Western Australia, sheds light on the impacts of opioid exposure during pregnancy.

During the study period from August 30, 2022 to February 27, 2023, the study investigated the link between POE and subsequent risks of hospitalization and emergency department visits for immune-related conditions. The outcomes indicated that neonates with POE, constituting 0.4% of the cohort, exhibited a higher likelihood of preterm birth, low birth weight, and co-exposure to cigarette smoke.

Perinatal opioid exposure was associated with a 62% increased risk of perinatal infection and an astonishing 11.91 times higher risk of eczema and dermatitis compared to non-exposed neonates. Neonatal abstinence syndrome resulting from opioid withdrawal in newborns was linked to a nearly threefold increase in the risk of both perinatal infection and eczema/dermatitis.