Tweet
J Perinatol
. 2023 Jul 14.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-023-01725-1. Online ahead of print. Trends in COVID-19 diagnoses and outcomes in infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit
Elizabeth B Heyward 1 , Reese H Clark 2 , P Brian Smith 1 3 , Daniel K Benjamin Jr 1 3 , Kanecia O Zimmerman 1 3 , Kaashif A Ahmad 2 4 5 , Courtney K Blackwell 6 , Hannah Won 3 , Rachel Ssengonzi 3 , Avi Belbase 3 , Courage O Ndalama 3 , Jennifer An 3 , Ogugua Nwaezeigwe 3 , Rachel G Greenberg 7 8
Affiliations
Objective: Characterize the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis among mothers with infants hospitalized in 294 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and demographics and outcomes of infants with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure in utero.
Study design: Cohort study of infants discharged from NICUs 01/2020-09/2021. We defined groups based on infant diagnosis, infant testing, and maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection status. We compared demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.
Results: Of 150,924 infants, 94% had no COVID-related diagnosis or test; 247 (0.2%) infants tested positive for COVID-19 and were more likely to require mechanical ventilation. Infants with unknown maternal status and negative testing were more commonly premature, outborn, and had longer hospitalizations.
Conclusion: In this large cohort of hospitalized infants, most had no known exposure to COVID-19. Adverse outcomes and mortality were rare. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of COVID-19 in this population.
. 2023 Jul 14.
doi: 10.1038/s41372-023-01725-1. Online ahead of print. Trends in COVID-19 diagnoses and outcomes in infants hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit
Elizabeth B Heyward 1 , Reese H Clark 2 , P Brian Smith 1 3 , Daniel K Benjamin Jr 1 3 , Kanecia O Zimmerman 1 3 , Kaashif A Ahmad 2 4 5 , Courtney K Blackwell 6 , Hannah Won 3 , Rachel Ssengonzi 3 , Avi Belbase 3 , Courage O Ndalama 3 , Jennifer An 3 , Ogugua Nwaezeigwe 3 , Rachel G Greenberg 7 8
Affiliations
- PMID: 37452116
- DOI: 10.1038/s41372-023-01725-1
Objective: Characterize the prevalence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) diagnosis among mothers with infants hospitalized in 294 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), and demographics and outcomes of infants with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) exposure in utero.
Study design: Cohort study of infants discharged from NICUs 01/2020-09/2021. We defined groups based on infant diagnosis, infant testing, and maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection status. We compared demographics, clinical characteristics, and outcomes.
Results: Of 150,924 infants, 94% had no COVID-related diagnosis or test; 247 (0.2%) infants tested positive for COVID-19 and were more likely to require mechanical ventilation. Infants with unknown maternal status and negative testing were more commonly premature, outborn, and had longer hospitalizations.
Conclusion: In this large cohort of hospitalized infants, most had no known exposure to COVID-19. Adverse outcomes and mortality were rare. Further studies are needed to evaluate the long-term effects of COVID-19 in this population.