For a study, researchers wanted to assess the risk of intrauterine fetal mortality (20 weeks of gestation or later) and newborn death among those who tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) on admission for delivery vs those who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2. From their establishment until July 17, 2020, the databases were scoured. The hunt for new items by hand continued until September 24, 2020. Publications that examined at least 20 cases of pregnant women who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on admission to labor and delivery with those who tested negative were included in the study. Publications that had fewer than 20 persons in either group or those without data on primary outcomes were excluded. A comprehensive search of the relevant databases was conducted, with rates of intrauterine fetal mortality and newborn death as co-primary outcomes. Rates of maternal and neonatal poor outcomes were included as secondary outcomes.
Six studies satisfied the criterion out of the 941 papers and completed trials listed. The study comprised 728 deliveries to patients who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and 3,836 deliveries to patients who tested negative. Intrauterine fetal mortality occurred in 8 of 728 (1.1%) of positive patients and 44 of 3,836 (1.1%) of negative patients (P=.60). Neonatal mortality occurred in 0 of 432 (0.0%) of positive patients and 5 of 2,400 (0.2%) of negative patients (P=.90). Preterm delivery occurred in 95 of 714 (13.3%) positive patients and 446 of 3,759 (11.9%) negative patients (P=.31). Maternal mortality occurred in 3 of 559 (0.5%) positive patients and 8 of 3,155 (0.3%) negative patients (P=.23).
When people tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and were hospitalized for labor and delivery, the rates of intrauterine fetal mortality and neonatal death were comparable. Other immediate outcomes of neonates were comparable between those born to persons who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and those born to individuals who tested negative for SARS-CoV-2.
