Infectious Diseases
Poster Session 1
Debra Ann Guinn, MD (she/her/hers)
Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternal Fetal Medicine
Saint Louis University
Columbia, MO, United States
Dawei David Wang, MD
Fellow Physician
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, AZ, United States
Ge Bin, PhD
Biostatistician
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Kansas City, MO, United States
Shamam A. Hashim, BA
Research Coordinator
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, AZ, United States
Shelby Ziller, MPH
Graduate Research Assistant
University of Arizano College of Public Health
Tucson, AZ, United States
Kelsie Oatmen, MD
Pediatrics
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ, United States
Camilla A. Rivera, N/A
Undergraduate Research Assistant
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ, United States
Yassin Hamzaoui, BA
Research Assistant
University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ, United States
Pricilla Cortez, BA
Research Assistant
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, AZ, United States
David Harris, MS
Professor and Director, University of Arizona Biobank
University of Kentucky, Kentucky Geological Survey
Lexington, KY, United States
Melissa Furlong, PhD
PhD Edipemiology
Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health
Tucson, AZ, United States
Mohamed Ahmed, MD, PhD
Chief Division of Neonatology
University of Arizona College of Medicine
Tucson, AZ, United States
Sean Limesand, PhD
Professor, University of Arizona
Animal and Comparative Sciendes, University of Arizona
Tucson, AZ, United States
Prior studies of the effects of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID) infection on pregnancy have mixed results. Our objectives were to determine characteristics of pregnant women with and without COVID and maternal and neonatal outcomes
Study Design:
A prospective observational cohort study of pregnant women (age ≥18 years) between May 2020 and August 2021 was conducted in a single center. COVID infection was diagnosed by the detection of viral RNA on nasal pharyngeal swabs during gestation.
Demographics, gestational age, comorbidities, maternal and newborn outcomes were abstracted. The primary outcome was the rate of COVID infection in pregnancy during the first 18 months of the Pandemic. Secondary outcomes included cesarean delivery (CD), hospital admission, and preeclampsia; newborn outcomes included prematurity, NICU admission, and evidence of vertical transmission.Continuous variables were analyzed using t-tests and categorical variables were tested by Chi-square.
Results:
Among 916 participants, 114 (12.3%) were diagnosed with COVID infection (Table 1). Women who contracted COVID infection were more likely to be Hispanic (6.7% vs 40.1%, p < 0.001); have a BMI ≥ 35 (35.0% vs 22.9%, p=0.005); although the mean BMI was similar (35.1 ± 7.9 vs, 33.2 ± 6.9, p=0.06). There were no differences in comorbidities, pregnancy complications, CD, or preterm birth (PTB). Women with symptomatic COVID infection were more likely to be admitted to the ICU. No newborns had evidence of vertically acquired COVID. However, infants born to COVID infected women were more likely to fail their hearing screening exam (11.3% vs 2.5%, p < 0.001).
Conclusion:
Perinatal infection with COVID infection did not increase CD, PTB, nor obstetrical complications. Symptomatic women had higher rates of ICU admissions. Newborn outcomes were generally good. However, the higher rates of failed newborn hearing tests following maternal COVID infection is concerning as the virus has been reported to cause adverse neurological sequalae in adults. This new finding requires confirmation and followup. If confirmed, early identification and treatment is critical.