Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39913500›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2025

Postnatal cytomegalovirus infection and its effect on hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes among infants aged 3-10 months: A cohort study in Eastern Uganda.

Noela Regina Akwi Okalany, David Mukunya, Peter Olupot-Olupot, Martin Chebet, Francis Okello, Andrew D Weeks, Fred Bisso, Thorkild Tylleskär, Kathy Burgoine, Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv Engebretsen

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Noela Regina Akwi OkalanyDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2957-955X
David MukunyaDepartment of Community and Public Health, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.
Peter Olupot-OlupotDepartment of Community and Public Health, Busitema University, Mbale, Uganda.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5757-609X
Martin ChebetDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Francis OkelloDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Andrew D WeeksDepartment of Women's and Children's Health, Sanyu Research Unit, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom.
Fred BissoMbale Regional Referral Hospital, Mbale, Uganda.
Thorkild TylleskärDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Kathy BurgoineDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.
Ingunn Marie Stadskleiv EngebretsenDepartment of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5852-3611

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundHearing impairment and neurodevelopmental disorders pose a significant global health burden in children. The link between postnatal cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection and these outcomes remains unclear. This study explored the association of postnatal CMV infection with hearing and neurodevelopmental outcomes in term infants aged 3 to 10 months.

methodsThis was a cohort sub-study within the BabyGel cluster randomised trial in Eastern Uganda. From 1265 term infants screened for CMV, 219 were negative at birth but positive at 3 months, and were age-matched with 219 CMV-negative controls. CMV status was determined by PCR screening of saliva samples, with positive results confirmed using urine samples (Chai Open qPCR, Santa Clara, CA). From the established cohort, 424 infants were successfully followed up between 3 to 10 months of age. Clinical assessments included neurodevelopmental evaluation using the Malawi Developmental Assessment Tool, the Hammersmith Infant Neurological Examination, and hearing screening using Otoacoustic Emission testing (Otoport Lite, Otodynamics Limited). Statistical analyses were performed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests and log binomial regression models with Stata 18.

resultsOf the 424 infants included in the study, 206 were postnatal CMV-infected and 218 were uninfected. Neurodevelopmental assessments indicated no differences between postnatal CMV-infected infants and uninfected groups (ARR 0.88, 95% CI [0.67, 1.15], p = 0.346). Hearing screening revealed a 1.99-fold increased risk of a positive result for postnatal CMV-infected infants compared to uninfected infants (67/106 vs. 39/106, 95% CI [1.27, 3.12], p = 0.003).

conclusionPostnatal CMV infection was associated with more positive hearing screenings, though no significant differences in neurodevelopmental outcomes were observed in early infancy. Exploration into the feasibility of incorporating hearing and CMV screening into routine care will play a vital role in early identification and intervention, improving the management of both hearing and CMV-related conditions in resource-limited settings.

Indexed as

Cytomegalovirus InfectionsHearing LossNeurodevelopmental DisordersCohort StudiesCytomegalovirusFemaleHumansInfantInfant, NewbornMaleUganda

Identifiers

PMID39913500
PMCPMC11801545

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.