Characteristics and Outcomes of Pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2

• Autor(a) principal: Marques,Mariana Crespo
• Data de Publicação: 2021
• Outros Autores: Branco,Rute, Carvalho,Margarida Meira de, Matos,Teresa, Nazaré,Antónia
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
• Texto Completo: http://scielo.pt/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S1646-58302021000300251
• topic: Pregnancy; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; Premature birth; Mother-to-child transmission.

Abstract Overview and Aims: The impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on maternal/fetal wellbeing remains unknown. Currently, epidemiological data regarding pregnant women infected in Portugal are scarse. Our aim was to describe the clinical characteristics and maternal-fetal outcomes of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 in a Portuguese hospital. Study design: Single-center, retrospective, cohort-study. Population: Pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection between March-30 and July-31, 2020, in a tertiary referral center for obstetrical care. Methods: Pregnant and immediately postpartum women with positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2 were included. We reviewed mother and neonate medical records for demographics, medical history, disease severity and pregnancy and neonatal outcomes including newborn infection. Results: 75 women were included, the majority infected in the 3rd-trimester (66.7%). Most were asymptomatic or had mild disease, with fever, cough and headache being commonly found. Only 2 cases presented with severe disease. SARS-CoV-2 prevalence rate at delivery was 6.2% and most patients had a cesarean delivery (64%). Lymphopenia was associated with symptomatic disease (p<0.001) and preterm delivery (p=0.025). Preterm birth was also more frequent in symptomatic women (p=0.048). There were 2 confirmed cases of vertical transmission (4%), one of which died. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy was associated with higher caesarian rates and prematurity. Lymphopenia may be an important marker for fetal distress and consequent iatrogenic preterm delivery. Vertical transmission occurred in 4% and may lead to fetal death.