Comment on the latest meta-analysis investigating childhood neurodevelopment outcomes following acetaminophen (paracetamol) use in pregnancy

Professor Per Damkier (University of Southern Denmark), Chair of the ENTIS Scientific committee, has provided a comment on the most recent meta-analysis investigating in utero exposure to acetaminophen and childhood neurodevelopment (Ricci et al., 2023). In this comment, published in Paediatric and Perinatal Epidemiology, Prof Damkier highlights important key methodological limitations and notable conflicting findings in the primary source literature. The comment can be read here (PDF available here). The authors of the original meta-analysis have responded to the comment, available here, where the authors conclude, “the certainty of evidence on the association between in utero acetaminophen exposure and child ADHD is low, and findings should be interpreted in the context of the limitations of included studies.” The original meta-analysis is also available (open access) here.