Impact of COVID-19 infection on maternal and neonatal outcomes: a review of 11078 pregnancies reported in the literature

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.