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CLINICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND OUTCOMES OF NEWBORNS FOLLOWING COVID-19 IN PREGNANCY IN MEXICO: A COHORT STUDY.
Abstract
Background
Since the appearance of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), clinical characteristics have been described in adults and children, however, there is limited information on the impact of maternal infection on newborns.
Aims
To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of newborns following COVID-19 in pregnancy.
Methods
A retrospective, multicenter cohort study from March 11, 2020 to March 1, 2021, comparing clinical characteristics and outcomes of newborns born to mothers with and without COVID-19 during pregnancy, and the SARS-CoV-2-positivity rate of neonates with SARS-CoV-2-positive mother. Data included maternal and neonatal symptoms such as gestational age, birth weight, neonatal and maternal symptoms, antenatal complications, length of hospital stay, neonatal intensive care unit admission, mechanical ventilation, and death. For the comparison of continuous variables and dichotomous variables, the Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher's exact test were used.
Results
Of 177 neonates, 73 were born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers. 75.3% of positive pregnant women were asymptomatic, with no severe cases reported. In neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers, we found an increased prevalence of prematurity [12 (16.4%) vs 7 (6.7%), p=0.05], neonatal respiratory symptoms [8 (11%) vs 1 (0.9%), p=0.004] and need for mechanical ventilation [7 (9.6%) vs 1 (1%), p=0.009]. No neonatal deaths were reported. SARS-CoV-2-positivity-rate was 6.8% in neonates at 24-hours.
Conclusions
These data suggest that newborns of mothers with COVID-19 are at increased risk of complications in the neonatal period, however, the prognosis appears to be favorable as no deaths were reported. Considering the high prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 among pregnant women, it is essential to implement effective screening.