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Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol
. 2023 May 5;2023:9968774.
doi: 10.1155/2023/9968774. eCollection 2023. Impact of Perinatal Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Early Health Outcomes among Infants Born from 2020 to 2021 in British Columbia, Canada
Lindsay L Richter 1 , Matthew S P Ho 2 , Qian Zhang 3 , Jeffrey N Bone 3 4 , Elodie Portales-Casamar 1 3 , Connie L Yang 1 , Ashley Roberts 1 , Kristopher Kang 1 , Emily Kieran 1 , Carol Lam 1 5 , Sarka Lisonkova 4 , Joseph Y Ting 1 2
Affiliations
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has impacted healthcare services and outcomes. We aimed to investigate healthcare resource utilization and early health outcomes of infants born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods: The study included all infants born alive between February 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, in British Columbia. We used linked provincial population-based databases including data on COVID-19 testing, birth, and health information for up to one year from birth. Perinatal COVID-19 exposure for infants was defined being born to mothers with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy or at delivery. Cases of COVID-19-exposed infants were matched with up to four non-exposed infants by birth month, sex, birthplace, and gestational age in weeks. Outcomes included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and in-/outpatient diagnoses. Outcomes were compared between groups using conditional logistic regression and linear mixed effects models including effect modification by maternal residence.
Results: Among 52,711 live births, 484 infants had perinatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2, an incidence rate of 9.18 per 1000 live births. Exposed infants (54.6% male) had a mean gestational age of 38.5 weeks, and 99% were born in hospital. Proportions of infants requiring at least one hospitalization (8.1% vs. 5.1%) and at least one emergency department visit (16.9% vs. 12.9%) were higher among the exposed vs. unexposed infants, respectively. Among infants from the urban area, those with exposure were more likely to have respiratory infectious diseases (odds ratio: 1.74; 95% confidence intervals: 1.07, 2.84), compared with those without exposure. Interpretation. In our cohort, infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection have increased healthcare demands in their early infancy, which warrants further investigation.
. 2023 May 5;2023:9968774.
doi: 10.1155/2023/9968774. eCollection 2023. Impact of Perinatal Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Early Health Outcomes among Infants Born from 2020 to 2021 in British Columbia, Canada
Lindsay L Richter 1 , Matthew S P Ho 2 , Qian Zhang 3 , Jeffrey N Bone 3 4 , Elodie Portales-Casamar 1 3 , Connie L Yang 1 , Ashley Roberts 1 , Kristopher Kang 1 , Emily Kieran 1 , Carol Lam 1 5 , Sarka Lisonkova 4 , Joseph Y Ting 1 2
Affiliations
- PMID: 37188258
- PMCID: PMC10181900
- DOI: 10.1155/2023/9968774
Background: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has impacted healthcare services and outcomes. We aimed to investigate healthcare resource utilization and early health outcomes of infants born to mothers with perinatal SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods: The study included all infants born alive between February 1, 2020, and April 30, 2021, in British Columbia. We used linked provincial population-based databases including data on COVID-19 testing, birth, and health information for up to one year from birth. Perinatal COVID-19 exposure for infants was defined being born to mothers with a positive test for SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy or at delivery. Cases of COVID-19-exposed infants were matched with up to four non-exposed infants by birth month, sex, birthplace, and gestational age in weeks. Outcomes included hospitalizations, emergency department visits, and in-/outpatient diagnoses. Outcomes were compared between groups using conditional logistic regression and linear mixed effects models including effect modification by maternal residence.
Results: Among 52,711 live births, 484 infants had perinatal exposure to SARS-CoV-2, an incidence rate of 9.18 per 1000 live births. Exposed infants (54.6% male) had a mean gestational age of 38.5 weeks, and 99% were born in hospital. Proportions of infants requiring at least one hospitalization (8.1% vs. 5.1%) and at least one emergency department visit (16.9% vs. 12.9%) were higher among the exposed vs. unexposed infants, respectively. Among infants from the urban area, those with exposure were more likely to have respiratory infectious diseases (odds ratio: 1.74; 95% confidence intervals: 1.07, 2.84), compared with those without exposure. Interpretation. In our cohort, infants born to mothers with SARS-CoV-2 infection have increased healthcare demands in their early infancy, which warrants further investigation.