Pregnancy outcomes after SARS-CoV-2 infection: the current evidence

Abstract

Many questions have been raised about SARS-CoV-2 infection complicating pregnancy such as whether pregnancy increases the susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 infection, whether SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy is associated with more severe disease and higher mortality, and whether SARS CoV-2 infection during various stages of pregnancy is associated with increased risks of adverse pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. Moreover, there are controversies on the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia, preterm delivery, and fetal growth restriction. In addition to the direct impact of COVID-19 infection on pregnancy outcomes, social restriction measures and changes in healthcare system during the COVID pandemic are reported to lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes such as increased stillbirths. This review aims to summarise the current evidence in the literature on these issues.