Hematologic adaptation to mask‐wearing among pregnant women and obstetrical outcome during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the effect of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) mask‐wearing on hematological laboratory components and obstetrical outcomes among women delivering during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods Laboratory results and obstetrical outcomes of women with singleton gestations, admitted for delivery during the COVID‐19 mask‐wearing period (April–June 2020) were compared with those of women delivering during the parallel period in 2019 and with a larger cohort derived from nine pre‐pandemic years (March 2011–April 2020). Results Overall, 1838 women delivered during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Compared with the pre‐pandemic period, mean hemoglobin and fibrinogen levels were significantly higher during the mask‐wearing period (12.15 ± 1.1 vs 11.96 ± 1.2, P < 0.001 and 472 ± 103.6 vs 448 ± 85.1 mg/dl, P < 0.001, respectively). Platelet levels were lower (200 ± 56.0 vs 206 ± 57.5 K/µl, P < 0.001). The rate of delivery at <34 weeks of gestation was lower during the mask‐wearing period (1.1% vs 2%, odds ratio [OR] 0.57, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 0.37–0.88, P = 0.01), whereas cesarean delivery and postpartum hemorrhage rates were higher (26.7% vs 24.4%, OR 1.13, 95% CI 1.02–1.25, P = 0.022 and 4.1% vs 2.8%, OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.2–1.8, P = 0.001, respectively). Conclusion A hard‐to‐ventilate space created by wearing a mask during the COVID‐19 era may be the underlying cause of the observed higher hemoglobin level among pregnant women, possibly affecting obstetrical outcomes.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on birth outcomes: A retrospective cohort study in Nanjing, China

“…The decrease in mean birth weight during the pandemic in this study was inconsistent with the findings of several previous studies ( 16 , 33 , 34 ). Our finding of decreased birth weight should be interpreted in the context of the COVID-19 mitigation strategy used in China.…”

“…For the risk of VPTB (<32 weeks), we also found no significant changes during the pandemic, which was in accordance with previous meta-analysis and subgroup analyses (24,25). The decrease in mean birth weight during the pandemic in this study was inconsistent with the findings of several previous studies (16,33,34). Our finding of decreased birth weight should be interpreted in the context of the COVID-19 mitigation strategy used in China.…”

Barrier measures implemented in French maternity hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey

“…While wearing a surgical mask has been shown to be effective in preventing transmission of the virus ( Sterr et al, 2021 ; Chazelet, Pacault, 2022 ), studies about the effects of masks on childbirth outcomes have confounding biases, less-than-robust methodology, and contradictory results ( Dap et al, 2021 ; Friedrich et al, 2021 ). Moreover, its compulsory use may cause significant discomfort or even be perceived as dehumanising.…”

The impact of mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes during the first nine months of the COVID-19 pandemic: A systematic review with meta-analysis

“… [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] , [5] , [6] , [7] , [8] , [9] , [10] , [11] , [12] , [13] , [14] , [15] , [16] , [17] , [18] , [19] , [20] , [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] , [25] , [26] , [27] , [28] , [29] , [30] , [31] , [32] , [33] , [34] , [35] , [36] , [37] , [38] , [39] , [40] , [41] , [42] , [43] , [44] , [45] , [46] , [47] , [48] , [49] , [50] .…”