Washington (ISJ): An observational study at a hospital affiliated to the University of Texas finds a vast majority of pregnant women with COVID-19 won’t develop serious health complications, and their newborns are unlikely to be infected with SARS-CoV-2.
The study carried out by a research team led by obstetrician Emily Adhikari, at the Parkland Health and Hospital System followed more than 3,300 pregnant women, from March through August of this year. Of them, 252 women tested positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancies.
At diagnosis, 95 percent were asymptomatic or had only mild symptoms. Only 13 of the 252 COVID-19-positive women (5 percent) in the study developed severe or critical pneumonia, including just six with no or mild symptoms initially. Only 14 women (6 percent) were hospitalised for management of their COVID-19 pneumonia, and all survived.
A comparison of mothers with and without COVID-19 during pregnancy, the researchers found there was no increase in adverse pregnancy-related outcomes.
Overall, women with COVID-19 during pregnancy were not more likely to give birth early on average. They weren’t at increased risk of dangerous preeclampsia, a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and organ damage, or an emergency C-section to protect the baby.
The researchers found no evidence that the placenta was compromised in any way by the SARS-CoV-2 infection. In most cases, newborns didn’t get sick. Only 6 of 188 infants (3 percent) tested positive for COVID-19. Most of those infected were born to mothers who were asymptomatic or had only mild illness.
However, mothers who developed severe COVID-19 before reaching 37 weeks, or well into the third trimester of pregnancy, were more likely to give birth prematurely. The findings reported in JAMA Network Open.
The researchers noted that more extensive study is needed, but their findings also suggest that diabetes may increase the risk for severe COVID-19 in pregnancy.
The researchers warned, though there is no need to panic about COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, they should take extra precautions to protect their health. And of course, follow the tree W’s: Wear a Mask, Watch your distance and Wash your hands.
Taken together, while there’s no need to panic about COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, it’s still a good idea for pregnant women and their loved ones to take extra precautions to protect their health. And, of course, follow the three W’s: Wear a mask, Watch your distance, and Wash your hands.
Source: US National Institute of Health
Image courtesy: Wikimedia Commons
