Association of SARS-CoV-2 Test Status and Pregnancy Outcomes

Associations of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and pregnancy outcomes remain unclear because most studies are case reports or case series without contemporary comparators.¹

We compared pregnant persons in labor who were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) compared with those uninfected.

We identified all persons presenting in labor at Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden, from March 25 to July 24, 2020. From March 25, reverse transcriptase–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing of nasopharyngeal swabs was performed on all persons in labor regardless of symptoms. If test results were positive, patients were asked to describe any symptoms, which were documented in the medical record. If a patient tested positive during pregnancy (inpatient visit) but negative when presenting in labor, she was considered exposed (n = 11). During the study period, 3 patients tested positive for antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy and were not tested with RT-PCR; they were considered exposed. Maternal and neonatal data were collected from the Swedish Pregnancy Register² and medical records.

Patients testing positive were matched to those testing negative on multiple pregnancies and a propensity score (estimated with logistic regression) including age, parity, early-pregnancy body mass index, educational level, birth country, smoking, living with partner, and prepregnancy comorbidity.

Using generalized estimating equation models with robust sandwich estimators clustered on the matching set in SAS version 9.4, we estimated prevalence ratios assuming a Poisson distribution to test associations between SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse pregnancy, delivery, and neonatal outcomes. A sensitivity analysis excluding those testing positive in pregnancy was conducted. Two-sided P < .05 indicated statistical significance.

The study was approved by the Swedish Ethical Review Authority, who deemed that informed consent was not required.

Among 2682 patients presenting in labor, 156 (5.8%) were SARS-CoV-2 positive (142 [91%] at admission and 14 [9%] during pregnancy). Gradients were observed across educational level (<10 years, 14.2%; 10-12 years, 6.6%; and >12 years, 4.0%) and birth country (Nordic, 3.9%; rest of Europe, 5.7%; and Africa/Middle East, 10.0%). Sixty-five percent testing positive were asymptomatic. We matched 155 patients testing positive to 604 testing negative.

After matching, the groups were well balanced on all covariates (Table). Patients testing positive were more likely to have preeclampsia (7.7% vs 4.3%; prevalence ratio, 1.84; 95% CI, 1.004-3.36) and less likely to undergo induction of labor (18.7% vs 29.6%; prevalence ratio, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.45-0.90) (Figure). Other maternal outcomes, including mode of delivery, postpartum hemorrhage, and preterm birth, did not significantly differ between groups. Infants did not differ regarding 5-minute Apgar score and birth weight for gestational age (Figure). All results were similar in the sensitivity analysis, although the association with preeclampsia was nonsignificant (prevalence ratio, 1.70; 95% CI, 0.89-3.25).

SARS-CoV-2 test positivity in individuals in labor was associated with a higher prevalence of preeclampsia and lower prevalence of induction of labor. COVID-19 is primarily a respiratory infection but also has systemic effects that may resemble preeclampsia.³ The absence of an increased prevalence of preterm birth is concordant with results of 2 previous studies using comparators.^4,5 The lack of difference in Apgar scores and birth weight for gestational age between groups is similar to that in a US study.⁴

In light of other accumulating data, it is already clear that COVID-19 is less severe in pregnancy than the 2 previous coronavirus infections: severe acute respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome–related coronavirus (MERS). Nevertheless, there are reports of pregnant persons requiring critical care, and there have been other reports of both mother and infant deaths in association with COVID-19.⁶

Strengths of this study include the universal testing, providing pregnancy comparators with negative test results. Limitations include uncertainty regarding generalizability to other countries with different obstetric care, timing of the RT-PCR test, and limited statistical power for rare outcomes and for a stratified analysis by symptoms.

Corresponding Author: Mia Ahlberg, RNM, PhD, Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine (Solna), Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden (mia.ahlberg@ki.se).

Published Online: September 23, 2020. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.19124

Author Contributions: Drs Ahlberg and Stephansson had full access to all of the data in the study and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Ahlberg, Neovius, Saltvedt, Söderling, Pettersson, Stephansson.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: Ahlberg, Neovius, Saltvedt, Söderling, Brandkvist, Stephansson.

Drafting of the manuscript: Ahlberg, Neovius.

Critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content: Neovius, Saltvedt, Söderling, Pettersson, Brandkvist, Stephansson.

Statistical analysis: Söderling.

Obtained funding: Stephansson.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Ahlberg, Saltvedt, Pettersson, Brandkvist.

Supervision: Neovius, Stephansson.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Funding/Support: This study was supported by the Swedish Society of Medicine (grant SLS-937994). Dr Stephansson was supported by the Swedish Research Council and the Strategic Program in Epidemiology at Karolinska Insititutet.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funding agencies had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; or decision to submit the manuscript for publication.