The incidence, characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women hospitalized with symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection in the UK from March to September 2020: a national cohort study using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS)

Abstract

BackgroundEvidence on risk factors, incidence and impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnant mothers and their babies has rapidly expanded but there is a lack of population level data to inform accurate incidence rates and unbiased descriptions of characteristics and outcomes. The primary aim of this study was to describe the incidence, characteristics and outcomes of hospitalized pregnant women with symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in the UK compared to pregnant women without SARS-CoV-2 in order to inform future clinical guidance and management.Methods and FindingsWe conducted a national, prospective cohort study of all hospitalized pregnant women with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 from 1st March 2020 to 31st August 2020 using the UK Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) across all 194 hospitals in the UK with a consultant-led maternity unit. Incidence was estimated using the latest national maternity data. Overall, 1148 hospitalized women had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy, 63% of which were symptomatic. Therefore, the estimated incidence of hospitalization with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 was 2.0 per 1000 maternities (95% CI 1.9-2.2) and for asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 was 1.2 per 1000 maternities (95% CI 1.1-1.4). Compared to pregnant women without SARS-CoV-2, women hospitalized with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to be overweight or obese (adjusted OR 1.86, 95% CI 1.39-2.48 and aOR 2.07, 95% CI 1.53-2.29 respectively), to be of Black, Asian or Other minority ethnic group (aOR 6.24, 95% CI 3.93-9.90, aOR 4.36, 95% CI 3.19-5.95 and aOR 12.95, 95% CI 4.93-34.01 respectively), and to have a relevant medical comorbidity (aOR 1.83, 95% CI 1.32-2.54). Compared to pregnant women without SARS-CoV-2, hospitalized pregnant women with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 were more likely to be admitted to intensive care (aOR 57.67, 95% CI 7.80-426.70) but the absolute risk of poor outcomes was low. Cesarean births and neonatal unit admission were increased regardless of symptom status (symptomatic aOR 2.60, 95% CI 1.97-3.42 and aOR 3.08, 95% CI 1.99-4.77 respectively; asymptomatic aOR 2.02, 95% CI 1.52-2.70 and aOR 1.84, 95% 1.12-3.03 respectively). Iatrogenic preterm births were more common in women with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 (aOR 11.43, 95% CI 5.07-25.75). The risks of stillbirth or neonatal death were not significantly increased, regardless of symptom status but numbers were small. The limitations of this study include the restriction to women hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2, who may by nature of their admission have been at greater risk of adverse outcome.ConclusionsWe have identified factors that increase the risk of symptomatic and asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy. The increased risks of cesarean and iatrogenic preterm birth provide clear evidence of the indirect impact of SARS-CoV-2 on mothers and maternity care in high income settings. Clinicians can be reassured that the majority of women do not experience severe complications of SARS-CoV-2 in pregnancy and women with mild disease can be discharged to continue their pregnancy safely.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy in Denmark – characteristics and outcomes after confirmed infection in pregnancy: a nationwide, prospective, population-based cohort study

“…Minority ethnicity has been identified as a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in both pregnant and non-pregnant women. [5][6][7][8]11 The increased risk level found in this study is similar to that reported in a large systematic review. 5 The aetiology of the ethnic disparity is not clear, but it is probably multifaceted and related to cultural and socioeconomic factors rather than to SARS-CoV-2.…”

“…Additionally, the outcomes are in most studies compared to outcomes of historic cohorts of non-infected women, with the risk that the consequences of the pandemic will be attributed solely to SARS-CoV-2. 6,7,11 Lastly, testing strategies influence the estimated prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and potentially also the estimated severity of outcomes in that also the mild and asymptomatic cases detected. 5 The testing strategy in Denmark rapidly evolved during the pandemic from testing the most ill in March 2020 to testing cases with mild symptoms from April and testing close contacts from May.…”

COVID‐19 in pregnancy—characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women admitted to hospital because of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in the Nordic countries

“…These strategies varied over time and between countries during the inclusion period (Figure S1) and could have biased the study results otherwise. Large population-based cohort studies from the United Kingdom (UK) and Italy found an incidence of hospitalization with COVID-19 of 2 -4.9/1000 maternities (13)(14)(15), which is much higher than the risk of 0.4/1000 deliveries found in DK, FI, IS and NO. However, these studies included admissions for any reason, such as obstetric care and labour.…”

“…With the on-going pandemic, population-based studies with larger case numbers and lower risk of bias are crucial for guiding disease surveillance and health management (12). A few population-based studies assessing the risk and consequences of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy have been published (13)(14)(15). However, the inclusion criteria comprised all causes of hospital admission which results in heterogenous study populations.…”

Вплив Соvid-19 На Плід Та Вірогідність Захворювання У Новонародженого

“…Ризики мертвонародження чи неонатальної летальності не були значно збільшені, тому ця статистика не бралася до уваги. [6].…”