Perinatal outcomes after admission with COVID-19 in pregnancy: a UK national cohort study

Nat Commun. 2024 Apr 15;15(1):3234. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-47181-z.

Abstract

There are few population-based studies of sufficient size and follow-up duration to have reliably assessed perinatal outcomes for pregnant women hospitalised with SARS-CoV-2 infection. The United Kingdom Obstetric Surveillance System (UKOSS) covers all 194 consultant-led UK maternity units and included all pregnant women admitted to hospital with an ongoing SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here we show that in this large national cohort comprising two years' active surveillance over four SARS-CoV-2 variant periods and with near complete follow-up of pregnancy outcomes for 16,627 included women, severe perinatal outcomes were more common in women with moderate to severe COVID-19, during the delta dominant period and among unvaccinated women. We provide strong evidence to recommend continuous surveillance of pregnancy outcomes in future pandemics and to continue to recommend SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in pregnancy to protect both mothers and babies.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / epidemiology
  • Cohort Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Outcome / epidemiology
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines

Supplementary concepts

  • SARS-CoV-2 variants