Title:Impact of COVID-19 Infection on Maternal and Neonatal Outcomes: A
Review of 11078 Pregnancies Reported in the Literature
Volume: 18
Issue: 4
Author(s): Fatemeh Azarkish and Roksana Janghorban*
Affiliation:
- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Maternal-Fetal Medicine Research Center, Shiraz University
of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Keywords:
COVID-19, coronavirus infections, pregnancy, maternal, neonate, perinatal.
Abstract:
Background: Pregnant women are a vulnerable group in viral outbreaks, especially in
the COVID-19 pandemic.
Objective: The aim of this review was to identify maternal and neonatal outcomes in available articles
on pregnancies affected by COVID-19.
Methods: The articles that had assessed outcomes of pregnancy and perinatal of women with
COVID-19 between Oct 2019 and Aug 2020 without language limitation were considered. We
searched databases, selected relevant studies and extracted data regarding maternal and neonatal
outcomes from each article.
Results: Data of 11078 pregnant women with COVID-19 of 23 countries were assessed from 77 articles
between December 8, 2019 and Aug 18, 2020. Most pregnant women reported in their third
trimester, out of which 6229 (56.22%) cases were symptomatic at the time of admission. Common
onset symptoms, abnormal laboratory findings, and chest computed tomography pattern were
cough (40.88%%), lymphocytopenia (43.38%), and multiple ground-glass opacities (4.42%), respectively.
51.37% of all deliveries were done through cesarean section. 158 maternal mortality
and 4.2% ICU admission were reported. Vertical transmission was not reported, but its possibility
was suggested in thirty-two neonates. Ten neonatal deaths, thirteen stillbirths, and nineteen abortions
were reported. 60% of newborns were not breastfed.
Conclusion: This review showed fewer adverse maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women
with COVID-19 in comparison with previous coronavirus outbreak infection in pregnancy.
Limited data are available regarding the possibility of virus transmission in utero, during vaginal
childbirth and breastfeeding. The effect of COVID-19 on the first and second trimesters and ongoing
pregnancy outcomes in infected mothers is still questionable.