Continued collection of longitudinal data suggested to assess immune response triggered by COVID-19 in pregnant women

Results from a systematic review showed that pregnant women with COVID-19, SARS or MERS were more likely to have preterm births, preeclampsia and caesarian delivery

Recent study findings from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest there may be a difference in disease severity when comparing pregnant and non-pregnant women with COVID-19.

Understanding the outcomes of pregnancy in COVID-19-positive women could prevent adverse outcomes on a large scale, and more data collection on pregnant women with COVID-19 is necessary to understand both the disease progression and the risk for severe illness in this patient population, says GlobalData.

Ana Fernandez Menjivar, senior epidemiologist, GlobalData comments, “While, for the Zika virus, it took approximately six months after peak infection to see the recorded peak in birth defects, Zika did not reach the magnitude of the current COVID-19 pandemic. Any postnatal outcomes associated with COVID-19 will be seen on a global scale. Insight on how COVID-19 infection affects pregnant women could provide a view on how COVID-19 affects the immune system and guide prenatal care.”

Results from a systematic review showed that pregnant women with COVID-19, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) were more likely to have preterm births, preeclampsia and caesarian delivery; while data from the CDC showed that pregnant women aged 15-44 years with COVID-19 were more likely to be hospitalised, admitted to the intensive care unit, and to need mechanical ventilation than non-pregnant women with COVID-19 of the same age. However, pregnancy was not associated with an increased risk for morality among women ages 15–44 years with COVID-19.

Menjivar continues,“Continued collection of longitudinal data can shed light on the immune response that COVID-19 triggers in pregnant women and can lead to a better understanding of the health outcomes in mothers and newborn children.”