Effects of COVID-19 pandemic period on neonatal mortality and morbidity

Abstract

Background Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in pregnant women has important impacts on perinatal and neonatal outcomes. However, there are a limited number of studies investigating the effect of the pandemic period on newborns. With this study, we aimed to determine the impact of the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak on prenatal care, obstetric outcomes, neonatal mortality and morbidity. Methods The retrospective results of patients hospitalized to the Tertiary Neonatal Intensive Care Unit between 1 March and 30 May 2020, the first peak period of the pandemic in our country, were compared with the data of the same period of the previous year. Results A total of 307 cases were included in our study. The mean gestational weeks of the neonates hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit during the COVID-19 period were higher than those in the control group (p: 0.003). During the pandemic period, an increase was found in the frequency of pregnant women presenting to obstetric emergency services in emergencies requiring acute intervention (p: 0.01). Compared to the control group, there was an increase in the number of infants with small for gestational age (SGA) diagnosis, 5th-minute Apgar score of <7, and newborns with a diagnosis of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who were treated with hypothermia in the study group (p <0.05). No difference was found in terms of maternal and neonatal mortality (p >0.05). Conclusions During the COVID-19 pandemic, it was shown that pregnant women disrupted their regular antenatal care, and more pregnant women were admitted to the obstetric emergency department with emergencies requiring acute intervention. This led to an increase in the number of cases diagnosed with SGA and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns. Our results will be useful for better management of current and future pandemic periods.

Seroprevalence of antibodies against to SARS-CoV 2 in umbilical cord blood in two hospital centers in Córdoba and Sucre, Colombia

“…On the other hand, several studies [7] compared the demographic characteristics, morbidity, and mortality of COVID-19 cases in neonates. They found no difference between the groups regarding gestational week and birth weight (p > 0.05).…”

“…Spontaneous abortions, premature births, and neonatal infections have also been described [5] , [6] . SARS-CoV-2 has been associated with deaths in neonates, stillbirths, chorioamnionitis, small gestational age, and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [4] , [7] . SARS-CoV and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus has also been reported in pregnant women.…”

“…During the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women were shown to have interrupted their regular prenatal care, with many being admitted to emergency obstetric services requiring immediate intervention. This increased the number of cases diagnosed with small for gestational age and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in newborns [7] .…”

Impact of COVID-19 on neonatal outcomes

“…and F. Acar on their recent publication of "Effects of COVID-19 pandemic period on neonatal mortality and morbidity". 1 This retrospective cohort study conducted at a tertiary center in Turkey demonstrated high neonatal morbidity and mortality during the pandemic in comparison to the prepandemic period. There was a rise in incidences of Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy (HIE) during the first wave of the pandemic.…”

The Influence of Maternal Factors on Neonatal Intensive Care Unit Admission and In-Hospital Mortality in Premature Newborns from Western Romania: A Population-Based Study

“…Although there has been a slight decline in preterm births worldwide from the first to the second decade of this millennium, and preterm survival rates have increased in developed countries, preterm neonates continue to die in many underdeveloped countries due to a lack of adequate newborn care [15,16]. Moreover, during the COVID-19 pandemic, pregnant women discontinued their routine prenatal care and more were brought to the obstetric emergency department with problems needing urgent attention, leading to an increase in the number of neonates diagnosed with small for gestational age and hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy [17]. Also, in a large cohort research study, COVID-19 in pregnancy was related to considerable and persistent increases in severe maternal morbidity and death, as well as negative newborn outcomes, when comparing pregnant women with and without a COVID-19 diagnosis [18].…”