The association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and preterm delivery: a prospective study with a multivariable analysis.

BACKGROUND: To determine whether severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, the cause of COVID-19 disease) exposure in pregnancy, compared to non-exposure, is associated with infection-related obstetric morbidity. METHODS: We conducted a multicentre prospective study in pregnancy based on a universal antenatal screening program for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Throughout Spain 45 hospitals tested all women at admission on delivery ward using polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) for COVID-19 since late March 2020. The cohort of positive mothers and the concurrent sample of negative mothers was followed up until 6-weeks post-partum. Multivariable logistic regression analysis, adjusting for known confounding variables, determined the adjusted odds ratio (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) of the association of SARS-CoV-2 infection and obstetric outcomes. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Preterm delivery (primary), premature rupture of membranes and neonatal intensive care unit admissions. RESULTS: Among 1009 screened pregnancies, 246 were SARS-CoV-2 positive. Compared to negative mothers (763 cases), SARS-CoV-2 infection increased the odds of preterm birth (34 vs 51, 13.8% vs 6.7%, aOR 2.12, 95% CI 1.32-3.36, p = 0.002); iatrogenic preterm delivery was more frequent in infected women (4.9% vs 1.3%, p = 0.001), while the occurrence of spontaneous preterm deliveries was statistically similar (6.1% vs 4.7%). An increased risk of premature rupture of membranes at term (39 vs 75, 15.8% vs 9.8%, aOR 1.70, 95% CI 1.11-2.57, p = 0.013) and neonatal intensive care unit admissions (23 vs 18, 9.3% vs 2.4%, aOR 4.62, 95% CI 2.43-8.94, p <  0.001) was also observed in positive mothers. CONCLUSION: This prospective multicentre study demonstrated that pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 have more infection-related obstetric morbidity. This hypothesis merits evaluation of a causal association in further research.

Obstetric Outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Asymptomatic Pregnant Women.

Around two percent of asymptomatic women in labor test positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in Spain. Families and care providers face childbirth with uncertainty. We determined if SARS-CoV-2 infection at delivery among asymptomatic mothers had different obstetric outcomes compared to negative patients. This was a multicenter prospective study based on universal antenatal screening for SARS-CoV-2 infection. A total of 42 hospitals tested women admitted for delivery using polymerase chain reaction, from March to May 2020. We included positive mothers and a sample of negative mothers asymptomatic throughout the antenatal period, with 6-week postpartum follow-up. Association between SARS-CoV-2 and obstetric outcomes was evaluated by multivariate logistic regression analyses. In total, 174 asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnancies were compared with 430 asymptomatic negative pregnancies. No differences were observed between both groups in key maternal and neonatal outcomes at delivery and follow-up, with the exception of prelabor rupture of membranes at term (adjusted odds ratio 1.88, 95% confidence interval 1.13-3.11; p = 0.015). Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers have higher odds of prelabor rupture of membranes at term, without an increase in perinatal complications, compared to negative mothers. Pregnant women testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 at admission for delivery should be reassured by their healthcare workers in the absence of symptoms.

[Spanish registry of Covid-19 screening in asymptomatic pregnants.] / Registro español de cribado de Covid-19 en gestantes asintomáticas.

OBJECTIVE: The Spanish registry of Covid-19 in Spanish pregnant women, made up of 100 centers, is created in response to the need to know the morbidity that Covid-19 generates in pregnant women and their newborns, to know the real incidence of the disease in this population group and to establish and monitor the package of measures to improve their care. The aim of this paper was the creation of a registry of pregnant women with Covid-19 infection in order to establish the interventions and measures necessary to improve the care of these patients during hospital admission. METHODS: To prepare the registry, the main researcher of each center collected weekly / biweekly the number of total pregnant women screened, as well as the total number of positive and negative, sending these data to the responsible researchers so that it could be available in real time of the percentage of infected asymptomatic pregnant population and the evolution by weeks in the centers of each participating province. The data were analyzed using the linear regression test and the Mantel test. RESULTS: As of May 31stsup> 2020, 16,308 screening tests were carried out in these hospitals, in which 338 pregnant women were positive, which translates into 2.07% (95% Confidence Interval: 1.86-2.30) of the asymptomatic pregnant women we attended in our centers were carriers of the virus and could develop the disease in subsequent days. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish epidemiological registry allows us to know the incidence of infection in pregnant women attended in the Spanish delivery centers, as well as the weekly and / or fortnightly evolution of the same, observing a significant decrease in the proportion of positive pregnant women over the total of screenings throughout this period, with an average of 6.5% in early April 2020 to an average of 0.93% positive in late May 2020.

OBJETIVO: El registro español de Covid-19 en embarazadas españolas, integrado por 100 centros, surge en respuesta a la necesidad de conocer la morbilidad que la Covid-19 genera en las gestantes y sus recién nacidos, de conocer la incidencia real de la enfermedad en este grupo poblacional y de establecer y monitorizar el paquete de medidas para mejorar su atención. El objetivo de este estudio fue la creación de un registro de gestantes con infección por Covid-19 con la finalidad de establecer y monitorizar las intervenciones y medidas necesarias para mejorar la atención de estas pacientes durante el ingreso hospitalario. METODOS: Para la elaboración del registro, el investigador principal de cada centro recogió con carácter semanal/quincenal el número de gestantes totales cribadas, así como el total de positivas y negativas, remitiendo a los investigadores responsables estos datos de manera que se pudiera disponer a tiempo real del porcentaje de población gestante asintomática infectada y de la evolución por semanas en los centros de cada provincia participante. Los datos fueron analizados mediante el Test de regresión lineal y test de Mantel. RESULTADOS: A día 31 de mayo de 2020, se realizaron en estos hospitales 16.308 test de cribado, en los cuales 338 gestantes resultaron positivas, lo que se traduce en que un 2,07% (Intervalo de Confianza del 95%: 1,86-2,30) de las gestantes asintomáticas que atendimos en nuestros centros eran portadoras del virus y podían desarrollar la enfermedad en días posteriores. CONCLUSIONES: El registro epidemiológico español permite conocer la incidencia de infección en gestantes atendidas en los paritorios españoles, así como la evolución semanal y/o quincenal de la misma, observándose un descenso significativo de la proporción de gestantes positivas sobre el total de cribadas a lo largo de este periodo, con una media del 6,5% a principios de abril de 2020 hasta una media del 0,93% de positivas a finales de mayo de 2020.

Registro español de cribado de covid-19 en gestantes asintomáticas / Spanish registry of Covid-19 screening in asymptomatic pregnants

OBJETIVO: El registro español de Covid-19 en embarazadas españolas, integrado por 100 centros, surge en respuesta a la necesidad de conocer la morbilidad que la Covid-19 genera en las gestantes y sus recién nacidos, de conocer la incidencia real de la enfermedad en este grupo poblacional y de establecer y monitorizar el paquete de medidas para mejorar su atención. El objetivo de este estudio fue la creación de un registro de gestantes con infección por Covid-19 con la finalidad de establecer y monitorizar las intervenciones y medidas necesarias para mejorar la atención de estas pacientes durante el ingreso hospitalario. MÉTODOS: Para la elaboración del registro, el investigador principal de cada centro recogió con carácter semanal/quincenal el número de gestantes totales cribadas, así como el total de positivas y negativas, remitiendo a los investigadores responsables estos datos de manera que se pudiera disponer a tiempo real del porcentaje de población gestante asintomática infectada y de la evolución por semanas en los centros de cada provincia participante. Los datos fueron analizados mediante el Test de regresión lineal y test de Mantel. RESULTADOS: A día 31 de mayo de 2020, se realizaron en estos hospitales 16.308 test de cribado, en los cuales 338 gestantes resultaron positivas, lo que se traduce en que un 2,07% (Intervalo de Confianza del 95%: 1,86-2,30) de las gestantes asintomáticas que atendimos en nuestros centros eran portadoras del virus y podían desarrollar la enfermedad en días posteriores. CONCLUSIONES: El registro epidemiológico español permite conocer la incidencia de infección en gestantes atendidas en los paritorios españoles, así como la evolución semanal y/o quincenal de la misma, observándose un descenso significativo de la proporción de gestantes positivas sobre el total de cribadas a lo largo de este periodo, con una media del 6,5% a principios de abril de 2020 hasta una media del 0,93% de positivas a finales de mayo de 2020

OBJECTIVE: The Spanish registry of Covid-19 in Spanish pregnant women, made up of 100 centers, is created in response to the need to know the morbidity that Covid-19 generates in pregnant women and their newborns, to know the real incidence of the disease in this population group and to establish and monitor the package of measures to improve their care. The aim of this paper was the creation of a registry of pregnant women with Covid-19 infection in order to establish the interventions and measures necessary to improve the care of these patients during hospital admission. METHODS: To prepare the registry, the main researcher of each center collected weekly / biweekly the number of total pregnant women screened, as well as the total number of positive and negative, sending these data to the responsible researchers so that it could be available in real time of the percentage of infected asymptomatic pregnant population and the evolution by weeks in the centers of each participating province. The data were analyzed using the linear regression test and the Mantel test. RESULTS: As of May 31stsup> 2020, 16,308 screening tests were carried out in these hospitals, in which 338 pregnant women were positive, which translates into 2.07% (95% Confidence Interval: 1.86-2.30) of the asymptomatic pregnant women we attended in our centers were carriers of the virus and could develop the disease in subsequent days. CONCLUSIONS: The Spanish epidemiological registry allows us to know the incidence of infection in pregnant women attended in the Spanish delivery centers, as well as the weekly and / or fortnightly evolution of the same, observing a significant decrease in the proportion of positive pregnant women over the total of screenings throughout this period, with an average of 6.5% in early April 2020 to an average of 0.93% positive in late May 2020

Evaluation of quality improvement for cesarean sections caesarean section programmes through mixed methods.

BACKGROUND: The rate of avoidable caesarean sections (CS) could be reduced through multifaceted strategies focusing on the involvement of health professionals and compliance with clinical practice guidelines (CPGs). Quality improvements for CS (QICS) programmes (QICS) based on this approach, have been implemented in Canada and Spain. OBJECTIVES: Their objectives are as follows: 1) Toto identify clusters in each setting with similar results in terms of cost-consequences, 2) Toto investigate whether demographic, clinical or context characteristics can distinguish these clusters, and 3) Toto explore the implementation of QICS in the 2 regions, in order to identify factors that have been facilitators in changing practices and reducing the use of obstetric intervention, as well as the challenges faced by hospitals in implementing the recommendations. METHODS: Descriptive study with a quantitative and qualitative approach. 1) Cluster analysis at patient level with data from 16 hospitals in Quebec (Canada) (n = 105,348) and 15 hospitals in Andalusia (Spain) (n = 64,760). The outcome measures are CS and costs. For the cost, we will consider the intervention, delivery and complications in mother and baby, from the hospital perspective. Cluster analysis will be used to identify participants with similar patterns of CS and costs based, and t tests will be used to evaluate if the clusters differed in terms of characteristics: Hospital level (academic status of hospital, level of care, supply and demand factors), patient level (mother age, parity, gestational age, previous CS, previous pathology, presentation of the baby, baby birth weight). 2) Analysis of in-depth interviews with obstetricians and midwives in hospitals where the QICS were implemented, to explore the differences in delivery-related practices, and the importance of the different constructs for positive or negative adherence to CPGs. Dimensions: political/management level, hospital level, health professionals, mothers and their birth partner. DISCUSSION: This work sets out a new approach for programme evaluation, using different techniques to make it possible to take into account the specific context where the programmes were implemented.

Analysis of perinatal mortality in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams in Hospital San Cecilio in Granada (Spain) over the 1991-2010 period.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal mortality has significantly decreased over the last decades. Low birth weight and prematurity are amongst the strongest predictors of neonatal death. The main objective is to analyze the evolution of perinatal mortality and its causes in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams over the last 20 years (1991-2010). POPULATION AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, longitudinal and ecological study. A total of 264 infants weighing less than 1000 g out of a total of 56 024 births during the study period. Different specific perinatal mortality rates by weight were calculated. The Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient was applied to assess the relationship between mortality rates and years of study, and ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare five-year periods and ten-year periods, respectively. RESULTS: There were 131 perinatal deaths, 82 stillbirths and 49 early neonatal deaths; 64.1% of them occurred before 27 weeks of gestation. Only the fetal mortality rate was statistically significant, although perinatal mortality showed a downward trend, without reaching significance. The main immediate causes of death were extreme prematurity, intrauterine hypoxia and infection. The underlying causes related to death in this group of newborn infants were infection caused by premature rupture of membranes, maternal hypertension, uncontrollable preterm labor and twin pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in mortality rates in this group of newborn infants is undergoing a slowdown.

Analysis of perinatal mortality in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams in Hospital San Cecilio in Granada (Spain) over the 1991-2010 period / Análisis de la mortalidad perinatal en nacidos con peso menor de 1000 gramos en el Hospital San Cecilio de Granada (España) durante el período 1991-2010

Introduction. Perinatal mortality has significantly decreased over the last decades. Low birth weight and prematurity are amongst the strongest predictors of neonatal death. The main objective is to analyze the evolution of perinatal mortality and its causes in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams over the last 20 years (1991-2010). Population and Methods. Observational, descriptive, longitudinal and ecological study. A total of 264 infants weighing less than 1000 g out of a total of 56 024 births during the study period. Different specific perinatal mortality rates by weight were calculated. The Spearmans Rho correlation coefficient was applied to assess the relationship between mortality rates and years of study, and ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare five-year periods and ten-year periods, respectively. Results. There were 131 perinatal deaths, 82 stillbirths and 49 early neonatal deaths; 64.1% of them occurred before 27 weeks of gestation. Only the fetal mortality rate was statistically significant, although perinatal mortality showed a downward trend, without reaching significance. The main immediate causes of death were extreme prematurity, intrauterine hypoxia and infection. The underlying causes related to death in this group of newborn infants were infection caused by premature rupture of membranes, maternal hypertension, uncontrollable preterm labor and twin pregnancy. Conclusions. The reduction in mortality rates in this group of newborn infants is undergoing a slowdown.(AU)

Introducción. La mortalidad perinatal ha disminuido sustancialmente en las últimas décadas. La prematuridad y el bajo peso al nacer son los factores predictivos más fuertemente asociados a esta mortalidad. El objetivo es analizar la evolución de la mortalidad perinatal en los nacidos con peso menor de 1000 g en los últimos 20 años (1991-2010) y sus causas. Población y métodos. Estudio observacional-descriptivo de tipo ecológico longitudinal, sobre 264 nacidos con peso menor de 1000 g de un total de 56 024 nacidos durante el período estudiado. Se calculan las diferentes tasas de mortalidad perinatal específicas por peso. Se aplica el coeficiente de correlación Rho de Spearman para evaluar la relación entre las tasas de mortalidad y los años de estudio, y las pruebas ANOVA y de Mann- Whitney para comparación de quinquenios y decenios, respectivamente. Resultados. Se han producido 131 muertes perinatales, 82 de ellas muertes fetales y 49 neonatales precoces. El 64,1% sucede antes de la semana de gestación 27. Sólo la tasa de mortalidad fetal presenta una disminución estadísticamente significativa, aunque la mortalidad perinatal presenta una tendencia al descenso, pero sin alcanzar la significación. Las principales causas inmediatas de óbito son la inmadurez extrema, la hipoxia intrauterina y la infección. Las causas fundamentales relacionadas con la muerte de este grupo de nacidos son la infección por rotura prematura de membranas, la hipertensión materna, la amenaza de parto pretérmino incontrolable y la gemelaridad. Conclusiones. La disminución de las tasas de mortalidad en este grupo de nacidos está sufriendo un enlentecimiento.(AU)

Analysis of perinatal mortality in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams in Hospital San Cecilio in Granada (Spain) over the 1991-2010 period / Análisis de la mortalidad perinatal en nacidos con peso menor de 1000 gramos en el Hospital San Cecilio de Granada (España) durante el período 1991-2010

Introduction. Perinatal mortality has significantly decreased over the last decades. Low birth weight and prematurity are amongst the strongest predictors of neonatal death. The main objective is to analyze the evolution of perinatal mortality and its causes in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams over the last 20 years (1991-2010). Population and Methods. Observational, descriptive, longitudinal and ecological study. A total of 264 infants weighing less than 1000 g out of a total of 56 024 births during the study period. Different specific perinatal mortality rates by weight were calculated. The Spearman's Rho correlation coefficient was applied to assess the relationship between mortality rates and years of study, and ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare five-year periods and ten-year periods, respectively. Results. There were 131 perinatal deaths, 82 stillbirths and 49 early neonatal deaths; 64.1% of them occurred before 27 weeks of gestation. Only the fetal mortality rate was statistically significant, although perinatal mortality showed a downward trend, without reaching significance. The main immediate causes of death were extreme prematurity, intrauterine hypoxia and infection. The underlying causes related to death in this group of newborn infants were infection caused by premature rupture of membranes, maternal hypertension, uncontrollable preterm labor and twin pregnancy. Conclusions. The reduction in mortality rates in this group of newborn infants is undergoing a slowdown.

Introducción. La mortalidad perinatal ha disminuido sustancialmente en las últimas décadas. La prematuridad y el bajo peso al nacer son los factores predictivos más fuertemente asociados a esta mortalidad. El objetivo es analizar la evolución de la mortalidad perinatal en los nacidos con peso menor de 1000 g en los últimos 20 años (1991-2010) y sus causas. Población y métodos. Estudio observacional-descriptivo de tipo ecológico longitudinal, sobre 264 nacidos con peso menor de 1000 g de un total de 56 024 nacidos durante el período estudiado. Se calculan las diferentes tasas de mortalidad perinatal específicas por peso. Se aplica el coeficiente de correlación Rho de Spearman para evaluar la relación entre las tasas de mortalidad y los años de estudio, y las pruebas ANOVA y de Mann- Whitney para comparación de quinquenios y decenios, respectivamente. Resultados. Se han producido 131 muertes perinatales, 82 de ellas muertes fetales y 49 neonatales precoces. El 64,1% sucede antes de la semana de gestación 27. Sólo la tasa de mortalidad fetal presenta una disminución estadísticamente significativa, aunque la mortalidad perinatal presenta una tendencia al descenso, pero sin alcanzar la significación. Las principales causas inmediatas de óbito son la inmadurez extrema, la hipoxia intrauterina y la infección. Las causas fundamentales relacionadas con la muerte de este grupo de nacidos son la infección por rotura prematura de membranas, la hipertensión materna, la amenaza de parto pretérmino incontrolable y la gemelaridad. Conclusiones. La disminución de las tasas de mortalidad en este grupo de nacidos está sufriendo un enlentecimiento.

Analysis of perinatal mortality in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams in Hospital San Cecilio in Granada (Spain) over the 1991-2010 period. / Analysis of perinatal mortality in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams in Hospital San Cecilio in Granada (Spain) over the 1991-2010 period.

INTRODUCTION: Perinatal mortality has significantly decreased over the last decades. Low birth weight and prematurity are amongst the strongest predictors of neonatal death. The main objective is to analyze the evolution of perinatal mortality and its causes in newborn infants with a birth weight of less than 1000 grams over the last 20 years (1991-2010). POPULATION AND METHODS: Observational, descriptive, longitudinal and ecological study. A total of 264 infants weighing less than 1000 g out of a total of 56 024 births during the study period. Different specific perinatal mortality rates by weight were calculated. The Spearmans Rho correlation coefficient was applied to assess the relationship between mortality rates and years of study, and ANOVA and Mann-Whitney test were used to compare five-year periods and ten-year periods, respectively. RESULTS: There were 131 perinatal deaths, 82 stillbirths and 49 early neonatal deaths; 64.1

of them occurred before 27 weeks of gestation. Only the fetal mortality rate was statistically significant, although perinatal mortality showed a downward trend, without reaching significance. The main immediate causes of death were extreme prematurity, intrauterine hypoxia and infection. The underlying causes related to death in this group of newborn infants were infection caused by premature rupture of membranes, maternal hypertension, uncontrollable preterm labor and twin pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in mortality rates in this group of newborn infants is undergoing a slowdown.