Peer-reviewed article
83569 Receipt of Pharmacologic Weaning Therapy and Developmental Delay
Campbell A, Zhang P, Gharbi S, Wiehe S ·
Summary
Written by AI, not yet AICS's view · claude-haiku-4-5-20251001This study examined whether pharmacologic weaning therapy (methadone or morphine) for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome affects long-term developmental outcomes. Researchers followed 1,807 opioid-exposed infants born between 2011-2017 and measured motor delay, language delay, and general developmental delay. The study found no significant relationship between pharmacologic therapy and any type of developmental delay, suggesting that while this treatment addresses withdrawal symptoms, it does not prevent developmental delays associated with prenatal opioid exposure.
Key points
- No significant relationship found between pharmacologic weaning therapy and motor delay (p=.260)
- No significant relationship between pharmacologic therapy and language delay (p=.542)
- No significant relationship between pharmacologic therapy and any developmental delay (p=.176)
- Results held even when maximum Finnegan score (severity of withdrawal symptoms) was included as an interaction term
- Authors recommend increased focus on non-pharmacologic interventions such as breastfeeding as first-line treatment for neonatal abstinence syndrome
Limitations
The study is observational and cannot establish causation or explain what causes developmental delays in opioid-exposed infants beyond the pharmacologic treatment received. The analysis does not account for other environmental, socioeconomic, or maternal factors that may influence developmental outcomes.
Abstract
ABSTRACT IMPACT: This study evaluates the long term effects of pharmacologic weaning therapy for opiate exposed infants. OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Infants born to chronic opioid users often suffer from neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), a condition characterized by tremors, diarrhea, hyperirritability and an inconsolable high-pitched cry. Symptoms are treated with pharmacologic weaning therapy, but long-term effects of this treatment have not been established. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: A sample of infants born between 2011-2017 was obtained from a large metropolitan hospital system. All infants who were exposed to opioids and received a Finnegan score were included in the sample (N=1,807). The analysis utilizes three dependent variables to measure developmental delay: motor delay, language delay or any delay, which includes general/non-specific delay in addition to motor and language delay. The treatment is defined as receipt of pharmacologic therapy with methadone or morphine. Maximum Finnegan score was also included as a continuous measure of the extent of the infant’s withdrawal symptoms. Linear models were utilized to determine a relationship between pharmacologic therapy and developmental delay with Maximum Finnegan score as an interaction term. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: In the linear models examining the main effects of weaning therapy on developmental delay, there was no relationship between pharmacologic therapy and motor delay (p=.260), language delay (p=.542) or any developmental delay (p=.176). When maximum Finnegan score was entered into the model as an interaction term the relationships were not significant. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF FINDINGS: These results suggest that while pharmacologic weaning is an appropriate treatment for withdrawal symptoms in infants, it is not a deterrent against developmental delays associated with NAS. This provides support suggest an increased focus on non-pharmacologic interventions such as breastfeeding as the first line of treatment for NAS infants.