Pregnant women with COVID-19 and risk of adverse birth outcomes and maternal-fetal vertical transmission: a population-based cohort study in Wuhan, China

• Authors: Rong Yang, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Hui Mei, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Tongzhang Zheng, Brown University; Qiang Fu, St Louis University; Yiming Zhang, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Stephen Buka, Brown University; Xinan Yao, Purdue University; Zezhong Tang, Peking University; Xichi Zhang, Emory University; Lin Qiu, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Yaqi Zhang, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Jieqiong Zhou, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Jiangxia Cao, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Youjie Wang, Huazhong University of Science & Technology; Aifen Zhou, Huazhong University of Science & Technology
• Journal Title: BMC MEDICINE
• Volume: Volume 18, Number 1
• Publisher: BMC | 2020-10-19, Pages 330-330
• Type of Work: Article | Final Publisher PDF
• Publisher DOI: http://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-020-01798-1
• Subjects: Biology, Virology; Health Sciences, Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Keywords: Science & Technology; Life Sciences & Biomedicine; Medicine, General & Internal; General & Internal Medicine; COVID-19; Birth outcome; Maternal-fetal vertical transmission

Abstract

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak is evolving rapidly worldwide. However, little is known about the association between pregnant women with COVID-19 and the risk of adverse birth outcomes. Method: We conducted a retrospective cohort study based on the Maternal and Child Health Information System (MCHIMS) of Wuhan, China. All pregnant women with singleton live birth recorded by the system between January 13 and March 18, 2020, were included. The adverse birth outcomes were preterm birth, low birth weight, neonatal asphyxia, premature rupture of membrane (PROM), and cesarean section delivery. Multivariate logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations between maternal COVID-19 diagnosis and adverse birth outcomes. Results: Out of 11,078 pregnant women, 65 were confirmed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). No deaths occurred from these confirmed cases or their newborns. Compared to pregnant women without COVID-19, pregnant women with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis had an increased risk of preterm birth (OR 3.34, 95% CI 1.60–7.00) and cesarean section (OR 3.63, 95% CI 1.95–6.76). There was no statistical difference in low birth weight, neonatal asphyxia, and PROM between the mothers with and without COVID-19. Among these newborns that were born to mothers with confirmed COVID-19, none was tested severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive or had abnormal CT results. Only one had diarrhea and three had a fever. Conclusions: This population-based cohort study suggests that COVID-19 during the later pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of adverse birth outcomes, including iatrogenic preterm birth and cesarean section delivery. Our data provide little evidence for maternal-fetal vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2. It is important to monitor the long-term health effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant women and their children.