tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Am J Perinatol
. 2024 Jul 2.
doi: 10.1055/a-2358-9710. Online ahead of print. Are neonatal birthweights reduced in low-risk patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy?
Hannah Schwartz Foster[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Markolline Forkpa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ximena A Van Tienhoven[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Nadav Schwartz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sindhu Srinivas[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Samuel Parry[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meaghan McCabe[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Objective: Studies have shown that 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may be associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth. However, the relationship between COVID-19 and abnormal fetal growth (i.e., low neonatal birthweight) has not been elucidated. Because other viruses affect fetal growth, obstetrical providers began to recommend ultrasound studies during the third trimester to assess fetal growth in patients with COVID-19 during pregnancy.The aim of this study was to determine if neonatal birthweight was different between low-risk patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy and low-risk patients without COVID-19 in pregnancy, to ascertain if third trimester growth ultrasound is warranted in this patient population.
Study design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of low-risk pregnant patients (who had no other indications for sonographic fetal surveillance during the third trimester) with and without COVID-19 during pregnancy. Patient demographics, gestational dating, neonatal birthweights, and corresponding Alexander growth curve birthweight percentiles were collected. The primary outcome was small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates, defined as birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age at delivery (SGA10).
Results: Our cohort (N=513) included 248 COVID-19-exposed patients and 265 patients who did not have COVID-19 during pregnancy. Gestational age at delivery and average neonatal birthweights were similar in COVID-19 exposed (38 weeks 5 days, 3,266 grams) and unexposed patients (38 weeks 4 days, 3,224 grams P=0.434, P=0.358). Rates of SGA10 neonates were similar in the COVID-19 exposed (22/248, 8.9%) and unexposed (23/265, 8.7%, P=0.939). Timing and severity of COVID-19 during pregnancy also were not associated with rates of SGA neonates.
Conclusion: In a cohort of low-risk patients, rates of SGA neonates were similar in patients with and without COVID-19 during pregnancy. These findings suggest that ultrasound surveillance to detect fetal growth restriction in low-risk patients with COVID-19 during pregnancy is not warranted.
. 2024 Jul 2.
doi: 10.1055/a-2358-9710. Online ahead of print. Are neonatal birthweights reduced in low-risk patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy?
Hannah Schwartz Foster[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Markolline Forkpa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ximena A Van Tienhoven[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Nadav Schwartz[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sindhu Srinivas[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Samuel Parry[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Meaghan McCabe[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 38955216
- DOI: 10.1055/a-2358-9710
Objective: Studies have shown that 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) may be associated with an increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes including preeclampsia, preterm birth, and stillbirth. However, the relationship between COVID-19 and abnormal fetal growth (i.e., low neonatal birthweight) has not been elucidated. Because other viruses affect fetal growth, obstetrical providers began to recommend ultrasound studies during the third trimester to assess fetal growth in patients with COVID-19 during pregnancy.The aim of this study was to determine if neonatal birthweight was different between low-risk patients diagnosed with COVID-19 during pregnancy and low-risk patients without COVID-19 in pregnancy, to ascertain if third trimester growth ultrasound is warranted in this patient population.
Study design: We performed a retrospective cohort study of low-risk pregnant patients (who had no other indications for sonographic fetal surveillance during the third trimester) with and without COVID-19 during pregnancy. Patient demographics, gestational dating, neonatal birthweights, and corresponding Alexander growth curve birthweight percentiles were collected. The primary outcome was small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates, defined as birthweight <10th percentile for gestational age at delivery (SGA10).
Results: Our cohort (N=513) included 248 COVID-19-exposed patients and 265 patients who did not have COVID-19 during pregnancy. Gestational age at delivery and average neonatal birthweights were similar in COVID-19 exposed (38 weeks 5 days, 3,266 grams) and unexposed patients (38 weeks 4 days, 3,224 grams P=0.434, P=0.358). Rates of SGA10 neonates were similar in the COVID-19 exposed (22/248, 8.9%) and unexposed (23/265, 8.7%, P=0.939). Timing and severity of COVID-19 during pregnancy also were not associated with rates of SGA neonates.
Conclusion: In a cohort of low-risk patients, rates of SGA neonates were similar in patients with and without COVID-19 during pregnancy. These findings suggest that ultrasound surveillance to detect fetal growth restriction in low-risk patients with COVID-19 during pregnancy is not warranted.