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Folic Acid Clinical Trial: Follow up of Children (FACT 4 Child)

Folic Acid Clinical Trial: Follow up of Children (FACT 4 Child)

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT03269110
Enrollment
664
Registered
2017-08-31
Start date
2017-07-01
Completion date
2023-12-31
Last updated
2025-04-18

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Asthma, Autism Spectrum Disorder, Behavioural Problem, Death, Emotional Problem, Executive Dysfunction, Pre-Eclampsia

Keywords

neurological, autism, ASD, behaviour, folic acid, pre-eclampsia, asthma, executive function

Brief summary

FACT 4 Child is a follow up study of mothers who participated in the Folic Acid Clinical Trial (NCT01355159) and their children at 4-6 years of age to determine the effect of high dose folic acid supplementation on social impairments associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs), and deficiencies in a range of executive function and emotional and behavioural problems in young children, and the risk of death.

Detailed description

The Folic Acid Clinical Trial (FACT) was developed to conclusively determine the effect of high dose folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on the prevention of preeclampsia in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design. The primary objective of the FACT 4 Child study is to examine the effect of maternal folic acid supplementation in pregnancy on the risk of social impairments, as well as executive function, emotional and behavioural problems associated with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and other developmental disorders, and death in offspring aged 4-6 y of mothers recruited to the CIHR funded FACT. The effect of folic acid supplementation throughout pregnancy may potentially have an impact on both the mother and her offspring, which highlights the importance and relevance of this study to the management of women with preeclampsia. Results of this study will allow care providers to have the evidence of potential effects of high dose folic acid that can then be discussed; allowing women to make an informed choice about their management and care.

Interventions

DIAGNOSTIC_TESTSRS 2, CBCL, BRIEF-P

This study does not involve an intervention.

Sponsors

Ottawa Hospital Research Institute
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
COHORT
Time perspective
PROSPECTIVE

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
4 Years to 6 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

1. Capability of participant to comprehend and comply with study requirements 2. Mother participated in FACT

Exclusion criteria

1. Confirmed spontaneous termination (miscarriage) or elective termination or stillborn 2. Confirmed death of offspring at 6 weeks postpartum and/or at discharge from hospital

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Neurocognitive disabilityFrom six weeks of age to date of data collection taken at one time point between the ages of 4 to 6 years.The primary outcome is a competing composite endpoint of neurocognitive disability and death. Neurocognitive disability is a composite outcome related to social impairments, executive function, emotional and behavioural problems which have been associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). It will be defined by an abnormal score on any of three standardized and validated assessment tools: SRS-2 BRIEF-P, or CBCL which will be administered to the parents of children aged 4-6 years. Deaths reported between 6 weeks to 4-6 years of age will be recorded as a competing event and treated as part of the primary endpoint.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Severe MorbidityFrom six weeks of age to date of data collection taken at one time point between the ages of 4 to 6 years.Secondary outcomes to be assessed in FACT 4 Child include severe morbidity of FACT offspring, captured by the Mother-Child Health Survey at the age of 4 - 6 years, including incidence of: Severe morbidity defined by any illnesses during the previous years that has necessitated hospitalization or medication/treatment for \>2 months

Countries

Australia, Canada, Jamaica, United Kingdom

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026