Copper and zinc deficiency to the risk of preterm labor in pregnant women: a case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study explored the relationship between maternal copper and zinc levels and preterm labor. DESIGN: The design of the present study was a case-control. Two groups were matched in terms of early-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), pregnancy and childbirth rating, education level, income, and employment status. Blood samples were taken from mothers after meeting the inclusion criteria when admitted to the maternity ward to check copper and zinc serum levels. Demographic and midwifery data were also collected using a questionnaire and patient records. The data were analyzed in SPSS26 using independent-samples T-test, chi-square, Fisher exact test, and regression analysis, and the p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. SETTING: Bohloul Hospital in Gonabad, Iran. PARTICIPANTS: The subjects were 86 pregnant women visiting the hospital in two cases (preterm delivery) and control (term delivery) groups. RESULTS: The mean serum level of zinc in the case group (preterm delivery) (44.97 ± 13.06 µg/dl) was significantly lower than the control group (term) (52.63 ± 21.51 µg/dl), and the mean serum level of copper in the case group (149.82 ± 53.13 µg/dl) was significantly lower than the control group (183.97 ± 71.40 µg/dl). CONCLUSION: As the findings showed, copper and zinc serum levels in mothers with preterm delivery were significantly lower than mothers with term delivery, which shows the biological role of these elements in the pathogenesis of preterm delivery.

SARS-CoV-2 in Pregnancy-The First Wave.

Background and Objectives: COVID-19, a disease caused by SARS-CoV-2, is a public health emergency. Data on the effect of the virus on pregnancy are limited. Materials and Methods: We carried out a retrospective descriptive study, in order to evaluate the obstetric results on pregnant women in which SARS-CoV-2 was detected through RT-PCR of the nasopharyngeal swab, at admission to the maternity hospital. Results: From 16 March to 31 July 2020, 12 SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women have been hospitalized. Eleven were hospitalized for initiation or induction of labor, corresponding to 0.64% of deliveries in the maternity hospital. One pregnant woman was hospitalized for threatened abortion, culminating in a stillbirth at 20 weeks of gestation. Regarding the severity of the disease, nine women were asymptomatic and three had mild illness (two had associated cough and one headache). Three had relevant environmental exposure and a history of contact with infected persons. None had severe or critical illness due to SARS-CoV-2. There were no maternal deaths. The following gestational complications were observed: one stillbirth, one preterm labor, one preterm prelabor rupture of membranes, and one fetal growth restriction. Four deliveries were eutocic, two vacuum-assisted deliveries and five were cesarean sections. The indications for cesarean section were obstetric. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 infection was found in a minority of hospitalized pregnant women in this sample. Most are asymptomatic or have mild illness, from gestational complications to highlight stillbirth and preterm birth. There were no cases of vertical transmission by coronavirus.

Declaration of emergency state due to COVID-19 spread in Japan reduced maternal transports without reduction in preterm delivery.

INTRODUCTION: To clarify whether the declaration of an emergency state due to the spread of COVID-19 in Japan affected the number of maternal transports and premature births. METHODS: A questionnaire-based descriptive study was conducted in perinatal centers throughout Japan in 2020. The incidence of maternal transport and preterm delivery rates every month after the COVID-19 spread in 2020 were compared with those in 2019. RESULTS: Participants were recruited from 52 perinatal centres. The maternal transport rate (maternal transports per number of deliveries) was 10.6% in April and 11.0% in June 2020, compared with 12.5% in 2019 (P < 0.05). The maternal transport rate due to preterm labor was 4.8% in April 2020 and 5.8% in 2019 (P < 0.05). The maternal transport rate during the declaration of emergency state decreased by 21% in April 2020 in non-emergency-declared prefectures, and decreased by 17% in May 2020 in emergency-declared prefectures. However, there was no significant difference in the preterm delivery rate between 2020 and 2019, regardless of the prefecture and gestational period. CONCLUSION: Declaration of the emergency status due to COVID-19 spread in Japan reduced maternal transport due to preterm labor, but did not reduce preterm delivery itself.

Childbirth and puerperium during the COVID-19 pandemic: patient experience and frequency of prematurity / Parto y puerperio durante la pandemia por COVID-19: experiencia de las pacientes y frecuencia de prematuridad

Objetivo: Evaluar la percepción de las madres que tuvieron su parto durante la pandemia COVID en relación a la obligación de no recibir visitas en su puerperio, y cuantificar la frecuencia de prematuridad que otros centros del mundo mostraron que se redujo durante la pandemia. Método: Estudio observacional retrospectivo con encuestas realizadas entre el 1 de septiembre y el 31 diciembre 2020, y análisis de estadísticas locales de la Unidad de Maternidad y Neonatología. Resultados: Sobre el 90% de las madres que contestaron la encuesta afirmó haber descansado mejor y preferir un retorno a las visitas con horarios reducidos. La frecuencia de prematuridad se redujo significativamente en nuestra institución (8,08% entre 2014 y 2019 vs. 1,6% en 2020). Conclusiones: La mayoría de las puérperas prefiere un horario reducido para visitas en el posparto. Este hallazgo y la caída en la frecuencia de prematuridad obligan a reflexionar sobre nuestro cuidado prenatal actual.

Objective: To evaluate the perception of mothers who gave birth during the COVID pandemic in relation to the obligation not to receive visits during the puerperium, and to quantify the frequency of prematurity that other centers in the world showed decreased during the pandemic. Method: Retrospective observational study with surveys conducted between September 1st and December 31, 2020, and analysis of local statistics from the Maternity and Neonatal Unit. Results: Over 90% of the mothers who answered the survey stated that they had rested better and preferred a return to visits with reduced hours. The frequency of prematurity was signficantly reduced in our institution ((8.08% between 2014 and 2019 vs 1.6% in 2020). Conclusions: Most postpartum women prefer a reduced schedule for pospartum visits. This finding and the drop in the frequency of prematurity force us to reflect on our current prenatal care.

Amelioration of prevalence of threatened preterm labor during the COVID-19 pandemic: nationwide database analysis in Japan.

We aimed to evaluate the changes in maternal and neonatal complications such as threatened preterm labor (TPL) and preterm birth before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic using large-scale real-world data in Japan. We obtained data from the Japan Medical Data Center claims database and evaluated differences in maternal and neonatal complications, such as the prevalence of TPL and preterm birth before the COVID-19 pandemic (in the year 2018 or 2019) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (in 2020). We included 5533, 6257, and 5956 deliveries in the years 2018, 2019, and 2020, respectively. TPL prevalence and preterm birth had significantly decreased in 2020 (41.3%, 2.6%, respectively) compared with those reported in 2018 (45.3%, 3.9%, respectively) and 2019 (44.5%, 3.8%, respectively). Neonatal outcomes such as low-birth-weight infants and retinopathy of prematurity were also improved during the pandemic. There were no clear trends in the prevalence of maternal complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy; hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets (HELLP) syndrome; and preeclampsia. Oral ritodrine hydrochloride usage in all participants had significantly decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. In conclusion, our results suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has ameliorated TPL and consequently reduced the number of preterm births.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant patients with COVID-19: A prospective cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the maternal and neonatal outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 infection. METHODS: A cohort study was conducted on 56 pregnant women with COVID-19 and 94 healthy pregnant women during the COVID-19 epidemic in Iran. Two groups were followed until childbirth. Demographic and obstetric information, clinical symptoms, laboratory and radiographic findings of the patients, and maternal and neonatal outcomes of the two groups were gathered by a checklist. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16. A P value < 0.05 was considered significant. RESULTS: The two groups were similar in terms of maternal age, gravida, parity, and co-morbidities (P > 0.05). The rate of cesarean delivery in the exposed group was higher than that in the control group (P = 0.027; relative risk [RR] =2.23). Pre-eclampsia was seen in 19.8% of the exposed group and 7.4% of the control group (P = 0.037; RR = 2.68). The rate of preterm labor in the exposed group was higher than that in the control group (P = 0.003; RR = 2.70). Fetal distress was seen in 16.1% of the exposed group and 4.3% of the control group (P = 0.016; RR = 3.84). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women with COVID-19 had an increased risk of pre-eclampsia, preterm labor, and cesarean delivery. Their fetal and neonatal outcomes were fetal distress, newborn prematurity, and low Apgar score.

Premature delivery in COVID-19 patients at San Juan de Dios Hospital / Parto prematuro en pacientes COVID-19 en Hospital San Juan de Dios

INTRODUCCIÓN Y OBJETIVO: La pandemia por SARS-CoV-2 afecta a las embarazadas con diferentes manifestaciones clínicas; una de ellas es el parto prematuro. El objetivo del presente estudio es caracterizar a las embarazadas con COVID-19 que tuvieron su parto y determinar la razón de aumento de parto prematuro en este grupo en comparación con aquellas que no presentaban la enfermedad. MÉTODOS: Estudio observacional de cohorte retrospectivo donde se incluyeron pacientes embarazadas entre abril y junio del año 2020 en la Maternidad del Hospital San Juan de Dios. Se seleccionaron aquellas que tuvieron su parto y se evaluaron los datos demográficos y médicos, antecedentes obstétricos, información respecto al parto, antecedentes del recién nacido y características de la enfermedad por COVID-19. RESULTADOS: Entre las pacientes COVID-19 un 16.9% tuvo parto prematuro, alcanzando un OR de 1,79 (0,76-3,84 IC 95%) respecto a aquellas sin la enfermedad que, aunque no significativo, evidencia tendencia. Entre las que cursaron con COVID-19 severo todas tuvieron parto prematuro, con un OR significativo (>= 7.84 IC 95%) en comparación con aquellas con cuadro leve o negativas a COVID-19. Un 10.1% de los recién nacidos de madres COVID-19 requirió reanimación neonatal, mientras que en las negativas fue de un 5.5%. CONCLUSIONES: Entre las pacientes COVID-19 se observo una tendencia a aumento del riesgo de parto prematuro respecto a aquellas sin la enfermedad, siendo significativo el aumento del riesgo en aquellas que cursaban con síntomas y aún más significativo si presentaban enfermedad severa.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has affected pregnant women with different clinical manifestations, one of them premature labor. The objective of this study is to characterize the pregnant patients with COVID-19 who had their delivery and to determine the risk of preterm delivery in this group compared to those who did not have the disease at the Maternity Department in San Juan de Dios Hospital, and determine what the rate of premature delivery is. METHODS: Retrospective observational cohort study where pregnant patients were included between April and June of 2020 at the Maternity Department in San Juan de Dios Hospital. Patients who had their delivery were selected and demographic and medical data, obstetric history, information regarding delivery, newborn history and characteristics of COVID-19 disease were evaluated. RESULTS: Among COVID-19 positives, a 16.9% had premature labor, reaching a nonsignificant OR 1.79 (0.76-3.84 95% CI) compared to those COVID-19 negative. Among those with severe COVID-19, all had preterm birth, with a significant OR (>=7.84 95% CI) compared to those with mild symptoms or COVID-19 negative. 10.1% of newborns of COVID-19 mothers required neonatal resuscitation, while, in the negative ones it was 5.5%. CONCLUSIONS: Among COVID-19 patients, a trend towards increased risk of preterm birth was observed compared to those without the disease, with the increased risk being significant in those with symptoms and even more significant if they had severe disease.

Clinical features and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: The recent COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China, has quickly spread throughout the world. In this study, we systematically reviewed the clinical features and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19. METHODS: PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE and MEDLINE were searched from January 1, 2020, to April 16, 2020. Case reports and case series of pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 were included. Two reviewers screened 366 studies and 14 studies were included. Four reviewers independently extracted the features from the studies. We used a random-effects model to analyse the incidence (P) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI). Heterogeneity was assessed using the I2 statistic. RESULTS: The meta-analysis included 236 pregnant women with COVID-19. The results were as follows: positive CT findings (71%; 95% CI, 0.49-0.93), caesarean section (65%; 95% CI, 0.42-0.87), fever (51%; 95% CI, 0.35-0.67), lymphopenia (49%; 95% CI, 0.29-0.70), coexisting disorders (33%; 95% CI, 0.21-0.44), cough (31%; 95% CI, 0.23-0.39), fetal distress (29%; 95% CI, 0.08-0.49), preterm labor (23%; 95% CI, 0.14-0.32), and severe case or death (12%; 95% CI, 0.03-0.20). The subgroup analysis showed that compared with non-pregnant patients, pregnant women with COVID-19 had significantly lower incidences of fever (pregnant women, 51%; non-pregnant patients, 91%; P < 0.00001) and cough (pregnant women, 31%; non-pregnant patients, 67%; P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidences of fever, cough and positive CT findings in pregnant women with COVID-19 are less than those in the normal population with COVID-19, but the rate of preterm labor is higher among pregnant with COVID-19 than among normal pregnant women. There is currently no evidence that COVID-19 can spread through vertical transmission.

Clinical Implications of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in the Viable Preterm Period.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the rate of preterm birth (PTB) during hospitalization among women diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) between 23 and 37 weeks of gestation and whether this rate differs by gestational age at diagnosis of infection. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective, cross-sectional study of all women diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between 23 and 37 weeks of gestation within a large integrated health system from March 13 to April 24, 2020. Cases with severe fetal structural malformations detected prior to infection were excluded. Women were stratified into two groups based on gestational age at diagnosis: early preterm (230/7 to 336/7 weeks) versus late preterm (34 to 366/7 weeks). We compared the rate of PTB during hospitalization with infection between the two groups. Statistical analysis included use of Wilcoxon rank sum and Fisher exact tests, as well as a multivariable logistic regression. Statistical significance was defined as a p-value <0.05. RESULTS: Of the 65 patients included, 36 (53.7%) were diagnosed in the early preterm period and 29 (46.3%) were diagnosed in the late preterm period. Baseline demographics were similar between groups. The rate of PTB during hospitalization with infection was significantly lower among women diagnosed in the early preterm period compared with late preterm (7/36 [19.4%] vs. 18/29 [62%], p-value = 0.001). Of the 25 patients who delivered during hospitalization with infection, the majority were indicated deliveries (64%, 16/25). There were no deliveries <33 weeks of gestation for worsening coronavirus disease 2019 and severity of disease did not alter the likelihood of delivery during hospitalization with SARS-CoV-2 infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 0.64; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.24-1.59). Increased maternal age was associated with a lower likelihood of delivery during hospitalization with SARS-CoV-2 infection (aOR: 0.77; 95% CI: 0.58-0.96), while later gestational age at diagnosis of infection was associated with a higher likelihood of delivery during hospitalization (aOR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.67-8.09). CONCLUSION: The likelihood of PTB during hospitalization with SARS-CoV-2 infection is significantly lower among women diagnosed in the early preterm period compared with late preterm. Most women with SARS-CoV-2 infection in the early preterm period recovered and were discharged home. The majority of PTB were indicated and not due to spontaneous preterm labor. KEY POINTS: · Preterm delivery is less likely among women diagnosed in the early preterm compared with late preterm.. · Most women infected in the early preterm period recovered and were discharged home undelivered.. · The majority of preterm birth were indicated and not due to spontaneous preterm labor..