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Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Zeitschrift Fur Geburtshilfe Und Neonatologie

From CRONOS to CRONOS-Kids: Investigating Neurological Development in Toddlers After Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy – A Study Protocol For A Prospective Cohort Study

  • Nadine Mand1
  • Franziska König1
  • Mirjam Wege1
  • Anna-Lena Cares2
  • Tamée Ersfeld2
  • Ines Simone Wallot1
  • Charlotte Hahn1
  • Corinna Nora Keil3
  • Janine Zöllkau4
  • Daniela Steuernagel5
  • Mirjam Kunze6
  • Martin Kuntz7
6 more authors
  • Kristin Andresen8
  • Ann Carolin Longardt9
  • Lars Mense10
  • Ulrich Pecks11
  • Mario Ruediger10
  • Stefanie Weber12
12 affiliations
  1. 1Neonatology and Pediatric Intensive CareDepartment of Pediatrics University of Marburg Marburg Germany
  2. 2Faculty of Medicine University of Marburg Marburg Germany
  3. 3Clinic of Gynecology and Obstetrics University of Marburg Marburg Germany
  4. 4Obstetrics Jena University Hospital Jena Germany
  5. 5Neuropediatrics, Department of Pediatrics Jena University Hospital Jena Germany
  6. 6Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyFaculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
  7. 7Department of General PediatricsAdolescent Medicine and Neonatology, Faculty of Medicine University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
  8. 8Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein Campus Kiel Kiel Germany
  9. 9Department for Neonatology, Pediatric Pneumology and Neuropediatrics (Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine II) University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein – Campus Kiel Kiel Germany
  10. 10Saxonian Centre for Feto/Neonatal Health Dresden University Hospital Dresden Germany
  11. 11Obstetrics and Gynecology Universität Würzburg Würzburg Germany
  12. 12Department of Pediatrics University of Marburg Marburg Germany
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Abstract

Introduction: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy increases the risk for adverse events in mothers and newborns. Research is increasingly exploring potential consequences of intrauterine exposure to the developing nervous system. However, there is still a lack of high-quality studies on long-term outcomes. The CRONOS-Kids study aims to investigate the global development of children after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in utero in comparison to an unexposed control group. This paper outlines the CRONOS-Kids study protocol.

Methods: The study is designed as a prospective population-based cohort study and will recruit children aged 36–60 months at the time of assessment. The exposed cohort will be recruited from the German CRONOS registry and will include only children who have been exposed to the Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. The unexposed cohort will be recruited by local pediatricians and via social media. For clinical evaluations, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2 nd Edition will be used. Parental self-reports on development will use the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, 3 rd Edition. Additional questionnaires cover information about maternal and child health, vaccinations, healthcare usage, media consumption, and maternal quality of life. Until April 2026, we aim to recruit 125 exposed and 125 unexposed children across five study sites.

Discussion: The CRONOS-Kids study will explore the impact of intrauterine SARS-CoV-2 exposure to specific virus variants on long-term neurologic outcomes in children as well as broader consequences of the pandemic.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{mand2026from,
  title = {{From CRONOS to CRONOS-Kids: Investigating Neurological Development in Toddlers After Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy – A Study Protocol For A Prospective Cohort Study}},
  author = {Nadine Mand and Franziska König and Mirjam Wege and Anna-Lena Cares and Tamée Ersfeld and Ines Simone Wallot and Charlotte Hahn and Corinna Nora Keil and Janine Zöllkau and Daniela Steuernagel and Mirjam Kunze and Martin Kuntz and Kristin Andresen and Ann Carolin Longardt and Lars Mense and Ulrich Pecks and Mario Ruediger and Stefanie Weber},
  journal = {Zeitschrift Fur Geburtshilfe Und Neonatologie},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1055/a-2861-0938},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2861-0938},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - From CRONOS to CRONOS-Kids: Investigating Neurological Development in Toddlers After Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection During Pregnancy – A Study Protocol For A Prospective Cohort Study
AU  - Nadine Mand
AU  - Franziska König
AU  - Mirjam Wege
AU  - Anna-Lena Cares
AU  - Tamée Ersfeld
AU  - Ines Simone Wallot
AU  - Charlotte Hahn
AU  - Corinna Nora Keil
AU  - Janine Zöllkau
AU  - Daniela Steuernagel
AU  - Mirjam Kunze
AU  - Martin Kuntz
AU  - Kristin Andresen
AU  - Ann Carolin Longardt
AU  - Lars Mense
AU  - Ulrich Pecks
AU  - Mario Ruediger
AU  - Stefanie Weber
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/19
JO  - Zeitschrift Fur Geburtshilfe Und Neonatologie
DO  - 10.1055/a-2861-0938
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1055/a-2861-0938
AB  - Introduction: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy increases the risk for adverse events in mothers and newborns. Research is increasingly exploring potential consequences of intrauterine exposure to the developing nervous system. However, there is still a lack of high-quality studies on long-term outcomes. The CRONOS-Kids study aims to investigate the global development of children after exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in utero in comparison to an unexposed control group. This paper outlines the CRONOS-Kids study protocol.  Methods: The study is designed as a prospective population-based cohort study and will recruit children aged 36–60 months at the time of assessment. The exposed cohort will be recruited from the German CRONOS registry and will include only children who have been exposed to the Alpha and Delta variants of SARS-CoV-2. The unexposed cohort will be recruited by local pediatricians and via social media. For clinical evaluations, the Movement Assessment Battery for Children, 2 nd Edition will be used. Parental self-reports on development will use the Ages and Stages Questionnaire, 3 rd Edition. Additional questionnaires cover information about maternal and child health, vaccinations, healthcare usage, media consumption, and maternal quality of life. Until April 2026, we aim to recruit 125 exposed and 125 unexposed children across five study sites.  Discussion: The CRONOS-Kids study will explore the impact of intrauterine SARS-CoV-2 exposure to specific virus variants on long-term neurologic outcomes in children as well as broader consequences of the pandemic.
SN  - 0948-2393
SN  - 1439-1651
ER  -