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van Baar JAC, Kostova EB, Allotey J, Thangaratinam S, Zamora JR, Bonet M, Kim CR, Mofenson LM, Kunst H, Khalil A, van Leeuwen E, Keijzer J, Strikwerda M, Clark B, Verschuuren M, Coomarasamy A, Goddijn M, van Wely M. COVID-19 in pregnant women: a systematic review and meta-analysis on the risk and prevalence of pregnancy loss. Hum Reprod Update 2024; 30:133-152. [PMID: 38016805 PMCID: PMC10905512 DOI: 10.1093/humupd/dmad030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2023] [Revised: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pregnant women infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are more likely to experience preterm birth and their neonates are more likely to be stillborn or admitted to a neonatal unit. The World Health Organization declared in May 2023 an end to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic as a global health emergency. However, pregnant women are still becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2 and there is limited information available regarding the effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection in early pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVE AND RATIONALE We conducted this systematic review to determine the prevalence of early pregnancy loss in women with SARS-Cov-2 infection and compare the risk to pregnant women without SARS-CoV-2 infection. SEARCH METHODS Our systematic review is based on a prospectively registered protocol. The search of PregCov19 consortium was supplemented with an extra electronic search specifically on pregnancy loss in pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 up to 10 March 2023 in PubMed, Google Scholar, and LitCovid. We included retrospective and prospective studies of pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection, provided that they contained information on pregnancy losses in the first and/or second trimester. Primary outcome was miscarriage defined as a pregnancy loss before 20 weeks of gestation, however, studies that reported loss up to 22 or 24 weeks were also included. Additionally, we report on studies that defined the pregnancy loss to occur at the first and/or second trimester of pregnancy without specifying gestational age, and for second trimester miscarriage only when the study presented stillbirths and/or foetal losses separately from miscarriages. Data were stratified into first and second trimester. Secondary outcomes were ectopic pregnancy (any extra-uterine pregnancy), and termination of pregnancy. At least three researchers independently extracted the data and assessed study quality. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and risk differences (RDs) with corresponding 95% CI and pooled the data using random effects meta-analysis. To estimate risk prevalence, we performed meta-analysis on proportions. Heterogeneity was assessed by I2. OUTCOMES We included 120 studies comprising a total of 168 444 pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection; of which 18 233 women were in their first or second trimester of pregnancy. Evidence level was considered to be of low to moderate certainty, mostly owing to selection bias. We did not find evidence of an association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and miscarriage (OR 1.10, 95% CI 0.81-1.48; I2 = 0.0%; RD 0.0012, 95% CI -0.0103 to 0.0127; I2 = 0%; 9 studies, 4439 women). Miscarriage occurred in 9.9% (95% CI 6.2-14.0%; I2 = 68%; 46 studies, 1797 women) of the women with SARS CoV-2 infection in their first trimester and in 1.2% (95% CI 0.3-2.4%; I2 = 34%; 33 studies; 3159 women) in the second trimester. The proportion of ectopic pregnancies in women with SARS-CoV-2 infection was 1.4% (95% CI 0.02-4.2%; I2 = 66%; 14 studies, 950 women). Termination of pregnancy occurred in 0.6% of the women (95% CI 0.01-1.6%; I2 = 79%; 39 studies; 1166 women). WIDER IMPLICATIONS Our study found no indication that SARS-CoV-2 infection in the first or second trimester increases the risk of miscarriages. To provide better risk estimates, well-designed studies are needed that include pregnant women with and without SARS-CoV-2 infection at conception and early pregnancy and consider the association of clinical manifestation and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection with pregnancy loss, as well as potential confounding factors such as previous pregnancy loss. For clinical practice, pregnant women should still be advised to take precautions to avoid risk of SARS-CoV-2 exposure and receive SARS-CoV-2 vaccination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janneke A C van Baar
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Elena B Kostova
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Satellite, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - John Allotey
- Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Center, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Shakila Thangaratinam
- Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Center, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - Javier R Zamora
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Global Women’s Health, Institute of Metabolism and Systems Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Clinical Biostatistics Unit, Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS), Madrid, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Bonet
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Caron Rahn Kim
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health and Research, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | | | - Heinke Kunst
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Barts Health NHS Trust, London, UK
| | | | - Elisabeth van Leeuwen
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Women and Childrens Hospital, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Julia Keijzer
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marije Strikwerda
- Department Vrouw & Baby, Utrecht UMC, location University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bethany Clark
- Department Vrouw & Baby, Utrecht UMC, location University of Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Maxime Verschuuren
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Arri Coomarasamy
- Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK
- NIHR Biomedical Research Center, University Hospitals Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Tommy's Centre for Miscarriage Research, Birmingham, UK
| | - Mariëtte Goddijn
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Madelon van Wely
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Center for Reproductive Medicine, Amsterdam UMC, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Satellite, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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Li J, Li X, Ye P, You Y, Wang Y, Zhang J, Zhao W, Yu Z, Yao R, Tang J. A retrospective observational study on maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19: Does the mild SARS-CoV-2 infection affect the outcome? PeerJ 2023; 11:e16651. [PMID: 38107588 PMCID: PMC10725666 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.16651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, several SARS-CoV-2 variants, including Omicron, are still circulating globally. This underscores the necessity for a comprehensive understanding of their impact on obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women, even in cases of mild infection. Methods We conducted a retrospective, single-center observational study to investigate the association between gestational SARS-CoV-2 infection and maternal-fetal outcomes in the Chinese population. The study enrolled 311 pregnant patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection (exposure group) and 205 uninfected pregnant patients (control group). We scrutinized the hospital records to collect data on demographics, clinical characteristics, and maternal and neonatal outcomes for subsequently comparison. Results Similar characteristics were observed in both groups, including maternal age, height, BMI, gravidity, parity, and comorbidities (p > 0.05). A majority (97.4%) of pregnant women in the exposure group with COVID-19 experienced mild clinical symptoms, with fever (86.5%) and cough (74.3%) as the primary symptoms. The exposure group exhibited significantly higher incidences of cesarean section and fetal distress compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, pregnant women in the exposure group showed reduced levels of hemoglobin and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, while experiencing significantly increased levels of lymphocytes, prothrombin time, alanine aminotransferase, and aspartate aminotransferase (p < 0.05). Notably, recent SARS-CoV-2 infection prior to delivery appeared to have an adverse impact on liver function, blood and coagulation levels in pregnant women. When comparing the two groups, there were no significant differences in the postpartum hemorrhage rate, premature birth rate, birth weight, neonatal asphyxia rate, neonatal department transfer rate, and neonatal pneumonia incidence. Conclusions Our study suggests that mild COVID-19 infection during pregnancy does not have detrimental effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes. However, the increased risks of events such as fetal distress and cesarean section, coupled with potential alterations in physical function, reveal the consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy, even in mild cases. These findings emphasize the importance of proactive management and monitoring of pregnant individuals with COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Li
- Department of Gynecology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, National-Regional Key Technology Engineering Laboratory for Medical Ultrasound, School of Biomedical Engineering, Shenzhen University Medical School, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Peiying Ye
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yun You
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Weihua Zhao
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiying Yu
- Department of Gynecology, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Runsi Yao
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jie Tang
- Department of Obstetrics, Shenzhen Second People's Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
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Abe Y, Uchiyama K, Takaoka N, Yamamoto K, Haruyama Y, Shibata E, Naruse K, Kobashi G. The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan: a large-scale nationwide population-based longitudinal study. Sci Rep 2023; 13:21059. [PMID: 38030704 PMCID: PMC10686978 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-48127-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnancy outcomes in Japan at the national level is unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan using nationwide population-based longitudinal data. Secondary data from the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2016 to 2020 were analyzed. Obstetric information, pregnancy complications, and delivery information of pregnant women over 22 weeks of gestation were compared before and during the pandemic. The trends of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and APGAR < 7 increased, whereas those of preterm birth and low birth weight decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Social changes caused by unprecedented situations may have massively influenced pregnancy in several ways. Our findings suggest that even in mild lockdowns like those in Japan, the introduction of social fear during the pandemic might negatively impact pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshiko Abe
- Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
| | - Koji Uchiyama
- Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Nobuko Takaoka
- Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Keiko Yamamoto
- Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yasuo Haruyama
- Integrated Research Faculty for Advanced Medical Sciences, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Eiji Shibata
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Katsuhiko Naruse
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Gen Kobashi
- Department of Public Health, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
- Integrated Research Faculty for Advanced Medical Sciences, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan
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