Effects of delayed cord clamping on neurodevelopment and infection at four months of age: a randomised trial

Aim To investigate the effect that delayed and early umbilical cord clamping have on neurodevelopment, immunoglobulin G (IgG) and symptoms of infection during the first 4months of life.Methods Full-term infants (n=382) were randomised to delayed (180sec) or early cord clamping (10sec). The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ) was used to assess neurodevelopment at 4months. Immunoglobulin G was measured at birth, 23days and 4months. Parents recorded any symptoms indicating infection during the first 4months of life.Results The total scores from the ASQ did not differ between groups. However, the delayed cord clamping (DCC) group had a higher mean (SD) score in the problem-solving domain [55.3 (7.2) vs. 53.5 (8.2), p=0.03] at 4months and a lower mean (SD) score in the personal-social domain [49.5 (9.3) vs. 51.8 (8.1), p=0.01]. The IgG level was higher in the DCC group at 23days (11.7 vs. 11.0g/L, p=0.004), but did not differ between the groups at 4months. Symptoms of infection were comparable between the groups.Conclusion Delayed cord clamping did not affect overall neurodevelopment or symptoms of infection up to 4months of age, but may have an impact on specific neurodevelopmental domains.