Incidence of congenital complications related to COVID-19 infection during pregnancy

• Published in: Journal of neonatal-perinatal medicine Vol. 16; no. 2; p. 227
• Main Authors: Reppucci, M L, Kaizer, A M, Prendergast, C, Acker, S N, Mandell, E W, Euser, A G, Diaz-Miron, J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands 01-01-2023
• Subjects: Child; COVID-19 - complications; COVID-19 - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Incidence; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Intestinal Atresia; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Pregnancy Outcome; COVID-19; neonatal outcomes; limb deficiency disorders; intestinal atresia
• ISSN: 1878-4429
• DOI: 10.3233/NPM-221122

Infection with COVID-19 during pregnancy has been associated with a hypercoagulable state. It is unknown if maternal COVID-19 infection results in congenital anomalies secondary to intrauterine vascular accidents. This study sought to determine if the rate of in-utero vascular complications (intestinal atresia and limb abnormalities) that may be attributable to the hypercoagulable states associated with COVID-19 and pregnancy increased after the onset of the pandemic.
Pregnancy, neonatal, and congenital defect data from a single academic medical center and the partner's children's hospital were collected and compared to the period prior to onset of the pandemic. A subanalysis including pregnant woman 18 years or greater with documented COVID-19 infection during gestation between March 2020-2021 was performed.
Rates of intestinal atresia did not differ prior to or after the onset of the pandemic (3.78% vs 7.23%, p = 0.21) nor did rates of limb deficiency disorders (4.41% vs 9.65%, p = 0.09). On subanalysis, there were 194 women with COVID-19 infection included in analysis: 135 (69.6%) were positive during delivery admission and 59 (30.4%) were positive earlier in their pregnancy. There was one infant born with intestinal atresia.
We report a low incidence of congenital anomalies in infants born to mothers with COVID-19 infection. It remains unclear if the impact of COVID-19 on the coagulative state augments the normal pro-thrombotic state of pregnancy; ongoing surveillance is warranted.