Effects of COVID-19 Infection during Pregnancy and Neonatal Prognosis: What Is the Evidence?

Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa, Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho, Layze Braz de Oliveira, Guilherme Schneider, Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo, Evandro Watanabe, Denise de Andrade, Ana Fátima Carvalho Fernandes, Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes and Inês Fronteira
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Álvaro Francisco Lopes de Sousa: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal
Herica Emilia Félix de Carvalho: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Layze Braz de Oliveira: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Guilherme Schneider: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Emerson Lucas Silva Camargo: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Evandro Watanabe: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Denise de Andrade: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Ana Fátima Carvalho Fernandes: Nursing Department, Universidade Federal do Ceará, 60430-160 Fortaleza, Brazil
Isabel Amélia Costa Mendes: Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-902 Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
Inês Fronteira: Global Health and Tropical Medicine, Instituto de Higiene e Medicina Tropical, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 1349-008 Lisboa, Portugal

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-17

Abstract: Background: This study’s aims are to assess the current evidence presented in the literature regarding the potential risks of COVID-19 infection among pregnant women and consequent fetal transmission. Methods: a systematic literature review assessing papers published in the most comprehensive databases in the field of health intended to answer the question, “What are the effects of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, and what is the neonatal prognosis?” Results: 49 papers published in 2020 were eligible, presenting low levels of evidence. A total of 755 pregnant women and 598 infants were assessed; more than half of pregnant women had C-sections (379/65%). Only 493 (82%) infants were tested for SARS-CoV-2, nine (2%) of whom tested positive. There is, however, no evidence of vertical transmission based on what has been assessed so far, considering there are knowledge gaps concerning the care provided during and after delivery, as well as a lack of suitable biological samples for testing SARS-CoV-2. Conclusions: We cannot rule out potential worsening of the clinical conditions of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2, whether the infection is associated with comorbidities or not, due to the occurrence of respiratory disorders, cardiac rhythm disturbances, and acid-base imbalance, among others. We recommend relentless monitoring of all pregnant women in addition to testing them before delivery or the first contact with newborns.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; pregnancy; fetal transmission; mother-to-child transmission (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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