Maternal and neonatal outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection

Semin Fetal Neonatal Med. 2023 Feb;28(1):101428. doi: 10.1016/j.siny.2023.101428. Epub 2023 Mar 11.

Abstract

Infection with SARS-CoV-2 causing COVID-19 in pregnancy is known to confer risks to both the pregnant patient and fetus. A review of the current literature demonstrates that pregnant individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection are at risk for higher composite morbidity, intensive care unit admission, ventilatory support, pre-eclampsia, preterm birth, and neonatal intensive care unit admissions compared to pregnant individuals without SARS-CoV-2. Worse obstetric morbidity and mortality generally correlate with the severity of COVID-19. Comorbidities such as diabetes increase the risk of severe COVID-19. An increased risk of stillbirth appears to be predominantly confined to pregnancies affected in the Delta variant time period. Further, vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 has been demonstrated to be safe and effective in pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Therefore, continued counseling encouraging vaccination remains imperative. The long-term maternal and neonatal consequences of pregnancies affected by SARS-CoV-2 remain unknown, and therefore continued research in this regard is warranted.

Keywords: COVID-19; Morbidity; Mortality; Outcomes; Pregnancy; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Premature Birth* / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants