Impact of COVID-19 Pneumonia on Neonatal Birth Outcomes

To the Editor: The coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), a highly infectious disease has been declared as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on 11th March 2020 [1]. Coronavirus such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS CoV), and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS CoV) has caused significant rates of adverse neonatal birth outcomes including neonatal mortality, stillbirth, low birth weight, and preterm delivery in pregnant women [2, 3]. We aimed to investigate the possible impact of COVID-19 pneumonia on neonatal birth outcomes born to mothers with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 pneumonia at Hubei Provincial Hospitals, China.

We conducted a case study of pregnant women (n = 7) infected with COVID-19 and admitted to five different Hubei Provincial Hospitals [Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University (n = 2), Huangshi Maternal and Child Health Hospital (n = 2), Jingzhou Maternal and Child Health Hospital (n = 1), Jingmen First Renmin Hospital (n = 1), Zaoyang First Renmin Hospital (n = 1)] from Jan 29 through Feb 14, 2020. The COVID-19 pneumonia was diagnosed according to the New Coronavirus Pneumonia Prevention and Control Program (7th edition) [4]. Quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) test for COVID-19 was conducted using specimens from the respiratory tract (nasopharyngeal swabs) and blood. The study protocol was approved by the Ethical Review Board of Hubei Provincial Central Hospital (Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University).

The pregnant women (27–34 y old) with COVID-19 pneumonia included in this study, delivered babies via C-section in the third trimester of pregnancy. Two of seven pregnant women (28.5%) had underlying medical conditions such as moderate anemia (patient 1 & 5). The laboratory results showed that three of seven (42.8%) pregnant women had elevated concentrations of C-reactive protein (>10 mg/L) and one pregnant woman (14.2%) had lymphopenia <1.1 × 10⁹/L. None of the pregnant women died. One of seven neonates (14.2%, neonate 5) had a low birth weight (<2500 g) and fetal distress (neonate 1). Three of seven neonates (42.8%) were delivered prematurely (neonates 3, 4 & 5) and had Newborn Respiratory Distress Syndrome (NRDS) (neonates 3, 5 & 7). Two of seven neonates (28.5%) were transferred to a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and given non-invasive ventilation (neonates 4 & 5). All neonates were found negative for COVID-19 pneumonia (Supplementary Tables 1 and 2).

It is speculated that COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women may cause hypoxemia and increase the risk of adverse neonatal birth events including birth asphyxia and premature birth. Moreover, premature birth may be caused by maternal anemia in patient 5. However, the direct relationship of COVID-19 with fetal distress still remaining elusive [5]. Based on our findings, development of COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women in the third trimester may be associated with adverse neonatal birth outcomes. A recently published report on ten neonates born to mothers with COVID-19 pneumonia investigated that COVID-19 might have an adverse effect on neonatal birth outcomes [6]. In addition, SARS CoV and MERS CoV were associated with adverse neonatal birth outcomes in pregnant women [2, 3].

The symptoms manifested by patients with COVID-19 infection were similar to those of patients reported in previously published studies [7]. Three of seven patients had higher level of C-reactive protein (>10 mg/L), as observed in a previous study [7]. All seven patients underwent C-section. In one of the seven patients, the indication of C-section was fetal distress. Moreover, the risk of COVID-19 transmission from mother to the neonate during intrapartum by vaginal delivery was another reason for conducting C-sections. This study had a small sample size and some of the data regarding neonatal birth outcomes were missing.

In summary, COVID-19 pneumonia in pregnant women may have an adverse effect on neonatal birth outcomes, causing problems including premature birth, fetal distress, and NRDS.

Compliance with Ethical Standards

Conflict of Interest

None.