Association between SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Adverse Perinatal Outcomes by Race/Ethnicity in a Large Integrated Health Care System

Abstract

Objective: Recent studies have reported associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and adverse perinatal outcomes but the extent to which these associations vary by race/ethnicity remains uncertain. Therefore, we examined how the association between prenatal SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse perinatal outcomes may be modified by race/ethnicity. Study Design: A retrospective cohort study was performed using data on 67,986 pregnant women extracted from the Kaiser Permanente Southern California electronic health records between 04/06/2020-12/31/2021. Upon admission to labor & delivery, all women were routinely tested for COVID-19 using RT-PCR test. Adjusted odds ratios (aOR) were used to estimate associations. Results: During the study period, COVID-19 was diagnosed in 4,960 (7%) of singleton pregnancies, with the highest rates observed among Hispanics (9.4%) and Non-Hispanic Blacks (6.2%). Compared with Non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics (aOR:1.12, 95% CI: 1.03-1.21) with SARS-CoV-2 infection had the highest odds of a pregnancy associated with non-reassuring fetal heart rate tracing. Neonates of all races/ethnicities, except for non-Hispanic Blacks, showed significantly increased odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection, with the highest risk observed among Asians/Pacific Islanders (aOR:10.88, 95% CI: 1.33-89.04). Non-Hispanic White mothers who tested positive were admitted to ICU at a higher rate at delivery and within 7 days of delivery (aOR:34.77, 95% CI: 11.3-107.04; aOR:26.48, 95% CI: 9.55-73.46, respectively), Hispanics were also at a significantly higher odds of admission to ICU (aOR:4.62, 95% CI: 2.69-7.94; aOR:4.42, 95% CI: 2.58-7.56, respectively). Non-Hispanic Black, Hispanic and Asian mothers who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 prenatally, were at increased risk for preeclampsia/eclampsia, and preterm birth as compared to Non-Hispanic White mothers. Conclusion: The findings highlight racial/ethnic disparities in the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse perinatal outcomes. The risk of neonatal SARS-CoV-2 infection was highest for Asian/Pacific Islanders. We also observed a remarkably high risk of ICU admission for non-Hispanic White mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2.