Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 infection.

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). METHODS: A multicenter retrospective cohort study of all pregnant patients who had SARS-CoV-2 testing and delivered in a large health system between March 2020 and March 2021. Cases were stratified into two groups: patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy vs. patients who tested negative. The primary outcome of HDP, defined as a composite of gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count syndrome (HELLP Syndrome), and eclampsia by standard criteria, was compared between the two groups. Statistical analysis included multivariable logistic regression to adjust for potential confounders such as maternal demographics and comorbidities. Patient ZIP codes were linked to neighborhood-level data from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey. RESULTS: Of the 22,438 patients included, 1,653 (7.4%) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Baseline demographics such as age, body mass index, race, ethnicity, insurance type, neighborhood-built environmental and socioeconomic status, nulliparity, and pregestational diabetes differed significantly between the two groups. SARS-CoV- 2 infection in pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of HDP compared to those without infection (14.9 vs. 14.8%; aOR 1.06 95% CI 0.90-1.24). CONCLUSIONS: In this large cohort that included a universally-tested population with several socioeconomic indicators, SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk of HDP.

A global view of hypertensive disorders and diabetes mellitus during pregnancy.

Two important maternal cardiometabolic disorders (CMDs), hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) (including pre-eclampsia) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), result in a large disease burden for pregnant individuals worldwide. A global consensus has not been reached about the diagnostic criteria for HDP and GDM, making it challenging to assess differences in their disease burden between countries and areas. However, both diseases show an unevenly distributed disease burden for regions with a low income or middle income, or low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), or regions with lower sociodemographic and human development indexes. In addition to many common clinical, demographic and behavioural risk factors, the development and clinical consequences of maternal CMDs are substantially influenced by the social determinants of health, such as systemic marginalization. Although progress has been occurring in the early screening and management of HDP and GDM, the accuracy and long-term effects of such screening and management programmes are still under investigation. In addition to pharmacological therapies and lifestyle modifications at the individual level, a multilevel approach in conjunction with multisector partnership should be adopted to tackle the public health issues and health inequity resulting from maternal CMDs. The current COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted health service delivery, with women with maternal CMDs being particularly vulnerable to this public health crisis.

Implementation of a universal postpartum blood pressure monitoring program: feasibility and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: New-onset postpartum preeclampsia has a higher risk of maternal morbidity and mortality than preeclampsia with antepartum onset, underscoring the need for earlier identification of elevated blood pressure among patients with this condition. Given the decrease in healthcare engagement, which is typical of the postpartum period, new-onset postpartum hypertension often goes unrecognized. Currently, there are no recommendations for universal postpartum blood pressure surveillance in women without hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. With the shift to telemedicine because of the COVID-19 pandemic, our institution's approach was to distribute blood pressure cuffs to women receiving any portion of their prenatal care virtually, thus also providing access to an opportunity for blood pressure measurement during the postpartum period for all women. OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of a patient-driven universal postpartum home blood pressure monitoring program in women without a previous diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective observational study of all postpartum women who were discharged from our institution from July 2020 through June 2021 and who were not previously identified to have hypertension. A clinical algorithm was developed and followed. All the women received discharge educational materials and were called at a 1-week interval by a nurse to review blood pressure and preeclampsia symptoms. The maternal demographics and delivery outcomes were recorded. RESULTS: Of the 10,092 deliveries during the study period, 5959 (59%) were successfully contacted. 352 were excluded, as they did not deliver at the primary hospital; 1052 (18%) had a previous hypertensive disorder of pregnancy diagnosis; 1522 (26%) did not have a blood pressure cuff; and 1841 (31%) planned to take their blood pressure at a later time. Precautions and blood pressure parameters were given to this last group. Of the remaining 1192, 222 (19%) had an initial elevated blood pressure. Of these, 98 had a second elevated blood pressure on recheck; 17 were referred to the emergency room for evaluation, with 8 being diagnosed with severe preeclampsia; and the remainder were recommended to follow with their obstetrical provider and enrolled in our institution's remote blood pressure management program. Of the 1192 women, 8% potentially had a new diagnosis of a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, with 0.7% having severe hypertension. Women with elevated blood pressures were more likely to be of non-Hispanic Black race and have a higher early pregnancy body mass index than those without elevated blood pressures. CONCLUSION: Our study indicates that a patient-driven postpartum blood pressure monitoring program is feasible and may be incorporated using existing resources. In addition, our findings suggest that the incidence of new-onset postpartum hypertensive disorders of pregnancy may be higher than previously assessed in retrospective cohorts. Thus, there may be a role for closer surveillance of all women with patient-driven home blood pressure monitoring, particularly those with risk factors or in the setting of limited resources.

Elimination of racial disparities in postpartum hypertension follow-up after incorporation of telehealth into a quality bundle.

BACKGROUND: Black people have a disproportionately higher risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and postpartum complications than White people but historically lower rates of postpartum follow-up. Few studies have investigated telehealth in the postpartum population. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate whether rapid switch to telehealth with audio-based visits during the COVID-19 pandemic decreased racial disparities in postpartum hypertension follow-up adherence. STUDY DESIGN: This retrospective cohort study included all the patients with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy who delivered between December 2019 and June 2020 at an urban tertiary care center. A preexisting postpartum hypertension quality improvement initiative was in place at this institution. Follow-up adherence within 6 weeks postpartum and at the 6-week visit were compared before February 15, 2020 (pretelehealth period) and following March 14, 2020 (post-telehealth period), with a 1-month implementation or washout period. The blood pressures at these visits were compared between time periods as a secondary outcome. RESULTS: A total of 473 patients were included in this analysis, of whom 76.3% were non-Hispanic Black. There were 215 and 258 patients in the pre- and post-telehealth cohorts, respectively. Among those who attended follow-up, the proportion of visits done over telehealth went from 0% pretelehealth to 98.0% post-telehealth. The proportion of postpartum hypertension follow-up attendance changed from 48.5% to 76.3% among non-Hispanic Black people (P<.0001) and from 73.1% to 76.7% among non-Hispanic White people (P=.76), leaving only a 0.4% racial gap (P=.97). This resulted in an elimination of the racial disparities in the post-telehealth period. CONCLUSION: Transition to telehealth with audio-based visits at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic improved attendance at postpartum hypertension visits among non-Hispanic Black people. This, therefore, led to significant decreases in the racial disparities in follow-up rates at our institution in the setting of an existing quality improvement initiative. Further research should focus on the intentional use of telehealth in improving maternal outcomes, especially among the non-Hispanic Black people.

Effect of initial COVID-19 outbreak during first trimester on pregnancy outcome in Wuxi, China.

BACKGROUND: A hospital-based retrospective study was conducted to examine the effect of initial COVID-19 outbreak during first trimester on pregnancy outcome in Wuxi, China. METHODS: Women who delivered children at our hospital during June 2020 to July 2020 (control group), and October 2020 to December 2020 (exposure group) were recruited in the present study. All of the participants were not infected with COVID-19. The last menstrual period (LMP) of the exposure group was between January 24th, 2020 and March 12th, 2020, whilst in the control group, the LMP was between May 12th and October 31st, 2019. RESULTS: There were 1,456 women in the exposure group and 1,816 women in the control group. Women in the exposure group were more susceptible to hypertension during pregnancy (HDP, P = 0.004, OR[95%CI] = 1.90[1.22-2.95]) and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM, P = 0.008, OR[95%CI] = 1.31[1.08-1.60]) compared to those in the control group. Mothers diagnosed with HDP were more likely to deliver premature infants, leading to a higher rate of low birth weight (all P < 0.05). The other common outcomes of pregnancy showed no statistical differences between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The initial COVID-19 outbreak might increase the incidence rates of HDP and GDM among pregnant women whose first trimesters were during that period, resulting in higher percentages of premature delivery and low birth weight. These results should be confirmed by studies from other hospitals or cities.

A Review of Prenatal Care Delivery to Inform the Michigan Plan for Appropriate Tailored Healthcare in Pregnancy Panel.

OBJECTIVE: To perform a literature review of key aspects of prenatal care delivery to inform new guidelines. DATA SOURCES: A comprehensive review of Ovid MEDLINE, Elsevier's Scopus, Google Scholar, and ClinicalTrials.gov. METHODS OF STUDY SELECTION: We included studies addressing components of prenatal care delivery (visit frequency, routine pregnancy assessments, and telemedicine) that assessed maternal and neonatal health outcomes, patient experience, or care utilization in pregnant individuals with and without medical conditions. Quality was assessed using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Methodology approach. Articles were independently reviewed by at least two members of the study team for inclusion and data abstraction. TABULATION, INTEGRATION, AND RESULTS: Of the 4,105 published abstracts identified, 53 studies met inclusion criteria, totaling 140,150 participants. There were no differences in maternal and neonatal outcomes among patients without medical conditions with reduced visit frequency schedules. For patients at risk of preterm birth, increased visit frequency with enhanced prenatal services was inconsistently associated with improved outcomes. Home monitoring of blood pressure and weight was feasible, but home monitoring of fetal heart tones and fundal height were not assessed. More frequent weight measurement did not lower rates of excessive weight gain. Home monitoring of blood pressure for individuals with medical conditions was feasible, accurate, and associated with lower clinic utilization. There were no differences in health outcomes for patients without medical conditions who received telemedicine visits for routine prenatal care, and patients had decreased care utilization. Telemedicine was a successful strategy for consultations among individuals with medical conditions; resulted in improved outcomes for patients with depression, diabetes, and hypertension; and had inconsistent results for patients with obesity and those at risk of preterm birth. CONCLUSION: Existing evidence for many components of prenatal care delivery, including visit frequency, routine pregnancy assessments, and telemedicine, is limited.

Obstetrical outcomes and maternal morbidities associated with COVID-19 in pregnant women in France: A national retrospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: To the best of our knowledge, no study has exhaustively evaluated the association between maternal morbidities and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) during the first wave of the pandemic in pregnant women. We investigated, in natural conceptions and assisted reproductive technique (ART) pregnancies, whether maternal morbidities were more frequent in pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosis compared to pregnant women without COVID-19 diagnosis during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS AND FINDINGS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of prospectively collected data in a national cohort of all hospitalizations for births ≥22 weeks of gestation in France from January to June 2020 using the French national hospitalization database (PMSI). Pregnant women with COVID-19 were identified if they had been recorded in the database using the ICD-10 (International Classification of Disease) code for presence of a hospitalization for COVID-19. A total of 244,645 births were included, of which 874 (0.36%) in the COVID-19 group. Maternal morbidities and adverse obstetrical outcomes among those with or without COVID-19 were analyzed with a multivariable logistic regression model adjusted on patient characteristics. Among pregnant women, older age (31.1 (±5.9) years old versus 30.5 (±5.4) years old, respectively, p < 0.001), obesity (0.7% versus 0.3%, respectively, p < 0.001), multiple pregnancy (0.7% versus 0.4%, respectively, p < 0.001), and history of hypertension (0.9% versus 0.3%, respectively, p < 0.001) were more frequent with COVID-19 diagnosis. Active smoking (0.2% versus 0.4%, respectively, p < 0.001) and primiparity (0.3% versus 0.4%, respectively, p < 0.03) were less frequent with COVID-19 diagnosis. Frequency of ART conception was not different between those with and without COVID-19 diagnosis (p = 0.28). When compared to the non-COVID-19 group, women in the COVID-19 group had a higher frequency of admission to ICU (5.9% versus 0.1%, p < 0.001), mortality (0.2% versus 0.005%, p < 0.001), preeclampsia/eclampsia (4.8% versus 2.2%, p < 0.001), gestational hypertension (2.3% versus 1.3%, p < 0.03), postpartum hemorrhage (10.0% versus 5.7%, p < 0.001), preterm birth at <37 weeks of gestation (16.7% versus 7.1%, p < 0.001), <32 weeks of gestation (2.2% versus 0.8%, p < 0.001), <28 weeks of gestation (2.4% versus 0.8%, p < 0.001), induced preterm birth (5.4% versus 1.4%, p < 0.001), spontaneous preterm birth (11.3% versus 5.7%, p < 0.001), fetal distress (33.0% versus 26.0%, p < 0.001), and cesarean section (33.0% versus 20.2%, p < 0.001). Rates of pregnancy terminations ≥22 weeks of gestation, stillbirths, gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, and placenta abruption were not significantly different between the COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 groups. The number of venous thromboembolic events was too low to perform statistical analysis. A limitation of this study relies in the possibility that asymptomatic infected women were not systematically detected. CONCLUSIONS: We observed an increased frequency of pregnant women with maternal morbidities and diagnosis of COVID-19 compared to pregnant women without COVID-19. It appears essential to be aware of this, notably in populations at known risk of developing a more severe form of infection or obstetrical morbidities and in order for obstetrical units to better inform pregnant women and provide the best care. Although causality cannot be determined from these associations, these results may be in line with recent recommendations in favor of vaccination for pregnant women.

Impact of Lockdown Measures during COVID-19 Pandemic on Pregnancy and Preterm Birth.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to assess the effect of the lockdown measures during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnancy outcomes of women who were not affected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. STUDY DESIGN: We used data from the perinatal health program and neonatal databases to conduct a cohort analysis of pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 lockdown in the Calgary region, Canada. Rates of preterm birth were compared between the lockdown period (March 16 to June 15, 2020) and the corresponding pre-COVID period of 2015 to 2019. We also compared maternal and neonatal characteristics of preterm infants admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Calgary between the two periods. FINDINGS: A total of 4,357 and 24,160 live births occurred in the lockdown and corresponding pre-COVID period, respectively. There were 366 (84.0 per 1,000 live births) and 2,240 (92.7 per 1,000 live births) preterm births in the lockdown and corresponding pre-COVID period, respectively (p = 0.07). Rates of very preterm and very-low-birth-weight births were lower in the lockdown period compared with the corresponding pre-COVID period (11.0 vs. 15.6 and 9.0 vs. 14.4 per 1,000 live births, p = 0.02 and p = 0.005, respectively). There was no difference in spontaneous stillbirth between the two periods (3.7 vs. 4.1 per 1,000 live birth, p = 0.71). During the lockdown period, the likelihood of multiple births was lower (risk ratio [RR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.60-0.88), while gestational hypertension and clinical chorioamnionitis increased (RR 1.24, 95%CI: 1.10-1.40; RR 1.33, 95%CI 1.10-1.61, respectively). CONCLUSION: Observed rates of very preterm and very-low-birth-weight births decreased during the COVID-19 lockdown. Pregnant women who delivered during the lockdown period were diagnosed with gestational hypertension and chorioamnionitis more frequently than mothers in the corresponding pre-COVID period. KEY POINTS: · Lockdown measures to reduce COVID-19 transmission were associated with a lower rate of preterm birth.. · Mental and physical wellbeing of pregnant women were significantly affected by the lockdown measures.. · A comprehensive public health plan to relieve psychosocial stress during pregnancy is required..

Changes to management of hypertension in pregnancy, and attitudes to self-management: An online survey of obstetricians, before and following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to understand the views and practice of obstetricians regarding self-monitoring for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (blood pressure (BP) and proteinuria), the potential for self-management (including actions taken on self-monitored parameters) and to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on such views. DESIGN: Cross-sectional online survey pre- and post- the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. SETTING AND SAMPLE: UK obstetricians recruited via an online portal. METHODS: A survey undertaken in two rounds: December 2019-January 2020 (pre-pandemic), and September-November 2020 (during pandemic) RESULTS: 251 responses were received across rounds one (150) and two (101). Most obstetricians considered that self-monitoring of BP and home urinalysis had a role in guiding clinical decisions and this increased significantly following the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic (88%, (132/150) 95%CI: 83-93% first round vs 96% (95%CI: 92-94%), (97/101), second round; p = 0.039). Following the pandemic, nearly half were agreeable to women self-managing their hypertension by using their own readings to make a pre-agreed medication change themselves (47%, 47/101 (95%CI: 37-57%)). CONCLUSIONS: A substantial majority of UK obstetricians considered that self-monitoring had a role in the management of pregnancy hypertension and this increased following the pandemic. Around half are now supportive of women having a wider role in self-management of hypertensive treatment. Maximising the potential of such changes in pregnancy hypertension management requires further work to understand how to fully integrate women's own measurements into clinical care.

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study.

Objective: To evaluate of COVID-19 disease in pregnant women and its association with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Design: Retrospective Cohort StudySetting: Multicenter study from a large metropolitan hospital systemMethods: Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancy and delivered were compared to the three subsequent deliveries of patients who tested negative (controls). We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.Results: Compared with pregnancies negative for SARs-CoV-2 infection, maternal SARs-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.67 - 8.10).Tweetable AbstractPatients who test positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancy are at increased risk of developing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Earlier SARs-CoV-2 infection results in an increased risk of developing a hypertensive disorder.

Disease Severity and Perinatal Outcomes of Pregnant Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

OBJECTIVE: To describe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) severity in pregnant patients and evaluate the association between disease severity and perinatal outcomes. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study of all pregnant patients with a singleton gestation and a positive test result for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who delivered at 1 of 33 U.S. hospitals in 14 states from March 1 to July 31, 2020. Disease severity was classified by National Institutes of Health criteria. Maternal, fetal, and neonatal outcomes were abstracted by centrally trained and certified perinatal research staff. We evaluated trends in maternal characteristics and outcomes across COVID-19 severity classes and associations between severity and outcomes by multivariable modeling. RESULTS: A total of 1,219 patients were included: 47% asymptomatic, 27% mild, 14% moderate, 8% severe, 4% critical. Overall, 53% were Hispanic; there was no trend in race-ethnicity distribution by disease severity. Those with more severe illness had older mean age, higher median body mass index, and pre-existing medical comorbidities. Four maternal deaths (0.3%) were attributed to COVID-19. Frequency of perinatal death or a positive neonatal SARS-CoV-2 test result did not differ by severity. Adverse perinatal outcomes were more frequent among patients with more severe illness, including 6% (95% CI 2-11%) incidence of venous thromboembolism among those with severe-critical illness compared with 0.2% in mild-moderate and 0% in asymptomatic (P<.001 for trend across severity). In adjusted analyses, severe-critical COVID-19 was associated with increased risk of cesarean birth (59.6% vs 34.0%, adjusted relative risk [aRR] 1.57, 95% CI 1.30-1.90), hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (40.4% vs 18.8%, aRR 1.61, 95% CI 1.18-2.20), and preterm birth (41.8% vs 11.9%, aRR 3.53, 95% CI 2.42-5.14) compared with asymptomatic patients. Mild-moderate COVID-19 was not associated with adverse perinatal outcomes compared with asymptomatic patients. CONCLUSION: Compared with pregnant patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection without symptoms, those with severe-critical COVID-19, but not those with mild-moderate COVID-19, were at increased risk of perinatal complications.

Incidence of Hypertensive Disorders of Pregnancy in Women with COVID-19.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to examine the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in women diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, also known as COVID-19). STUDY DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study of all women who delivered at MedStar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC from April 8, 2020 to July 31, 2020. Starting April 8, 2020, universal testing for COVID-19 infection was initiated for all women admitted to labor and delivery. Women who declined universal testing were excluded. Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy were diagnosed based on American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Task Force definitions.1 Maternal demographics, clinical characteristics, and labor and delivery outcomes were examined. Neonatal outcomes were also collected. Laboratory values from admission were evaluated. Our primary outcome was the incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy among women who tested positive for COVID-19. The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was compared between women who tested positive for COVID-19 and women who tested negative. RESULTS: Of the 1,008 women included in the analysis, 73 (7.2%) women tested positive for COVID-19, of which 12 (16.4%) were symptomatic at the time of admission. The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy was 34.2% among women who tested positive for COVID-19 and 22.9% women who tested negative for COVID-19 (p = 0.03). After adjusting for race, antenatal aspirin use, chronic hypertension, and body mass index >30, the risk of developing any hypertensive disorder of pregnancy was not statistically significant (odds ratio: 1.58 [0.91-2.76]). CONCLUSION: After adjusting for potential confounders, the risk of developing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy in women who tested positive for COVID-19 compared with women who tested negative for COVID-19 was not significantly different. KEY POINTS: · There is an increased incidence of hypertensive disorders in women who test positive for COVID-19.. · Characteristics of pregnant women with COVID-19 are similar to those with hypertensive disorders.. · Liver function tests were similar between pregnant women with COVID-19 and women without COVID-19..

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 Infection on Pregnancy Outcomes in an Inner-City Black Patient Population.

While data have shown that Black populations are disproportionately affected by COVID-19, few studies have evaluated birth outcomes in these understudied populations. This study hypothesized that SARS-CoV-2 infection would confer worse maternal and neonatal outcomes in a predominantly Black and underserved population in Brooklyn, New York City. In particular, SARS-CoV-2 is associated with higher rates of preterm birth, cesarean delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, lower APGAR scores, and neonatal resuscitation. Demographic factors and comorbidities were compared between the SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative groups. A retrospective cohort study was conducted in hospitalized patients who gave birth at Kings County Hospital from April 10 through June 10, 2020. Demographic and clinical data were obtained from the electronic medical record. Patients were categorized based on SARS-CoV-2 infection status and peripartum outcomes were analyzed. We used the Fisher exact test for categorical variables and the Wilcoxon rank-sum test for continuous variables. P < 0.05 was considered significant. There were no differences in obstetric or neonatal outcomes between the SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative cohorts. Most SARS-CoV-2 positive patients were asymptomatic on admission. The rates of maternal comorbidities were similar in the SARS-CoV-2 positive and negative groups. In this predominantly Black population in Brooklyn, SARS-CoV-2 infection did not confer increased risk of adverse obstetric or neonatal outcomes, despite the prevalence of comorbidities. The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy outcomes is complex and may differ on a community level. Determining how COVID-19 is associated with perinatal outcomes in this minoritized patient population will augment our understanding of health disparities in order to improve care.

The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternity services: A review of maternal and neonatal outcomes before, during and after the pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: To explore any apparent trends in maternal or neonatal outcomes during the Covid-19 pandemic by comparing the maternity outcomes before, during and after the pandemic. STUDY DESIGN: A retrospective review was performed of maternity statistics recorded on the hospital database of a large tertiary referral centre in Dublin with over 8000 deliveries per annum from 1st January to 31st July 2020. This time period represented the months prior to, during the peak and following the pandemic in Ireland. RESULTS: There was no correlation between the monthly number of Covid deaths and the monthly number of perinatal deaths (r = 0.465, NS), preterm births (r = 0.339, NS) or hypertensive pregnancies (r = 0.48, NS). Compared to the combined numbers for the same month in 2018 and 2019, there were no significant changes in perinatal deaths or preterm births in the months when Covid deaths were at their height. The rate of preterm birth was significantly less common in January-July 2020 compared to January-July in 2018/2019 (7.4 % v 8.6 %, chi-sq 4.53, P = 0.03). CONCLUSION: The was no evidence of a negative impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on maternity services, as demonstrated by maternal and neonatal outcomes.