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Clinical Characteristics and Incidence of Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Symptomatic COVID-19 Pregnant Women: An Observational Study

Article Information

Shruti Yarra1, Sindy Carolina Moreno1, Justin K To1, David Garry2, Ivan M Ngai1*

1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Flushing Hospital Medical Center, New York, United States

2Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Stony Brook Medicine, Health Sciences Center, New York, United States

*Corresponding Author: Ivan M Ngai, Assistant Professor, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Director of Obstetric Quality Improvement, Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Flushing New York, 4500 Parsons Blvd, Queens, NY 11355, United States

Received: 28 August 2020; Accepted: 04 September 2020; Published: 18 September 2020

Citation:

Shruti Yarra, Sindy Carolina Moreno, Justin K To, David Garry, Ivan M Ngai. Clinical Characteristics and Incidence of Spontaneous Preterm Birth in Symptomatic COVID-19 Pregnant Women: An Observational Study. Obstetrics and Gynecology Research 3 (2020): 199-206.

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Abstract

Background: There is limited data regarding COVID-19 and preterm birth. Most published studies do not exclude induced preterm deliveries or women at higher risk for preterm birth.

Objective (s): To determine the incidence of spontaneous preterm delivery in pregnancies complicated by maternal COVID-19 infection with no other independent risk factors for preterm birth.

Study design: This was an observational study of symptomatic women diagnosed with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy who delivered at Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens, New York between March 1 and May 1, 2020. IRB approval was obtained. Charts of symptomatic women who were confirmed COVID-19 positive by RT-PCR in the third trimester were reviewed. Patient information collected included gestational age at diagnosis of COVID-19, obstetrical history, comorbidities, x-ray findings, and blood work. Women with a history of preterm birth, short cervix in current pregnancy, and multiple gestations were excluded. Statistical evaluation for normally distributed continuous variables was done using a student’s t-test, and for dichotomous variables, a Chi-square analysis or Fisher’s exact test was used. A multiple regression analysis model was used to correlate the relationship of clinical variables to the gestational age at delivery.

Results: 24 pregnant women met initial criteria, 17 of which delivered in the time period stated. Preterm delivery rate in our sample size was 29% (n=5). Our institution’s preterm delivery rate for a similar time-period in 2019, using the same exclusion and inclusion criteria, was 2.7%. When comparing COVID-19 positive women that delivered preterm to COVID-19 positive women who delivered at term, the gestational age on admission was lower in the preterm cohort (weeks 34.1 ± 1.5 weeks versus 38.0 ± 1.7; p<0.001). M

Keywords

Preterm Delivery, Birth, COVID-19, Pregnancy, Risk Factors

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Article Details

1. Background

Preterm labor is the leading cause of perinatal morbidity and mortality worldwide [1]. Infants born prematurely, defined as less than 37 weeks of pregnancy, not only have numerous health complications, but also add substantial short-term and long-term costs to the health care system [2]. Approximately 40% of preterm labor is a result of intraamniotic infection [3]. Viral infections can lead to a release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins, and other effector molecules that result in the characteristic phenomena of labor such as uterine contractions and rupture of membranes. Unfortunately, there is limited data regarding preterm birth and symptomatic pregnant women who test positive for COVID-19, a viral infection that was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) in March of 2020. A meta-analysis by Di Mascio et al reported a preterm birth rate as high as 41.1% in the COVID-19 pregnancy population [4], but did not focus on a low-risk population. Flushing Hospital Medical Center (FHMC) is located in Queens, New York, which was an epicenter of the coronavirus pandemic in the United States [5]. As of August 2020, with 3028 positive cases of coronavirus per 100000, it was one of the worst affected areas in the state of New York. Given the limited but concerning data regarding preterm birth, our study objective was to determine the incidence of spontaneous preterm delivery in pregnancies complicated by maternal COVID-19 with no risk factors for preterm birth.

2. Methods

This was an observational study of symptomatic women diagnosed with COVID-19 during the third trimester of pregnancy who delivered at FHMC between March 1, 2020 and May 1, 2020. This study was reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board of Flushing Hospital Medical Center. All pregnant women who presented to FHMC labor and delivery units with signs or symptoms concerning for COVID-19 had nasopharyngeal swab samples taken after obtaining New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) authorization. Results were available by the following day. COVID-19 status was diagnosed via SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR test, performed by the New York City Public Health Laboratory. Positive patients were then followed until delivery. Obstetrical management was provided by the standard of care. All sample collection, processing, and laboratory testing complied with WHO guidance [6]. Charts of these patients were reviewed for symptoms, vitals, white blood cell counts and other lab results, medications used for COVID-19 such as azithromycin or hydroxychloroquine, and chest x-rays. Additional neonatal collected information included neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, number of days in NICU, comorbidities such as transient tachypnea of newborn, respiratory distress syndrome, and necrotizing enterocolitis.

Inclusion criteria included viable pregnancies greater or equal to 24 weeks of gestation where the mother was symptomatic (for example fever, cough, shortness of breath, and/or myalgias) and tested positive for COVID-19 on PCR. Exclusion criteria included women who were diagnosed with COVID-19 post discharge from FHMC, women who underwent labor induction at less than 37 weeks gestation, patients with risk factors for entering preterm labor such as a history of preterm labor [7], women with a history of short cervix [8], and multiple gestation pregnancies [9, 10]. Statistical evaluation for normally distributed continuous variables used a student’s t test and for dichotomous variables a Chi square analysis or Fisher’s exact test was used. For variables which were not normally distributed, Mann-Whitney testing was utilized. Multiple regression analysis model was used to correlate the relationship of clinical variables to the gestational age at delivery. Statistical analysis used MedCalc version 19.2.1 (MedCalc Software, Ostend, Belgium). P <0.05 was considered significant.

3. Results

During the study period, 24 symptomatic COVID-19 positive pregnant women were evaluated and 7 women did not deliver within the time frame stated. There were 17 women with complete pregnancy outcome data who met inclusion criteria. The maternal age range was 23 to 41 years old and the mean gestational age of the cohort was 36.9 ± 2.4 weeks at diagnosis. Spontaneous preterm birth, with delivery < 37 weeks, occurred in 5 women (29%). None of these women had risk factors for preterm birth, including a history of preterm delivery, short cervix, or multiple gestations. When comparing COVID-19 positive women that delivered preterm to those that delivered at term, the gestational age on admission was lower in the preterm cohort (38.0 ± 1.7 weeks versus 34.1 ± 1.5 weeks; p<0.001) (Table 1, Figure 1). The remainder of maternal demographics were similar between cohorts including maternal white blood cell count (median values 7.1 thousand/µL versus 7.7 thousand/µL; p=0.52) and maternal lymphocyte percentage (19.4 ± 9.1% versus 13.8 ± 4.1%; p=0.21). Mode of delivery and neonatal outcomes were similar between groups. The preterm group birth weight was smaller (3322.5g ± 541 versus 2245g ± 250; p<0.01) which was expected. The preterm group had more transient tachypnea then the term group and no neonates tested positive for COVID-19. One neonate, born at 32 weeks, had sepsis and was in NICU for 19 days (Table 1).

A multiple regression analysis using clinical parameters

available on admission for the prediction of gestational age of delivery was modeled. The clinical admission variables which were significant in suggesting the gestational age at birth were the gestational age on admission (Coefficient 0.95, (95% CI 0.86 - 1.03; p<0.001), white blood count (Coefficient 0.142, 95% CI 0.07 - 0.22; p=0.002), and lymphocyte percentage (Coefficient 0.038, 95% CI 0.01 - 0.06; p=0.008). (Table 2) The same clinical variables obtained on admission, gestational age on admission, white blood count and lymphocyte percentile, remained significant when predicting preterm birth in the model.

 

All patients n=17

Full Term Deliveries n=12

Preterm Deliveries n=5

Age (years)

32 ± 5.87

32.66 ± 5.33

30.4 ± 7.4

BMI (kg/m2)

30.68 ± 3.62

29.94 ± 3.5

32.44 ± 3.4

Parity

Multiparous

8(47%)

5 (41%)

3 (60%)

Nulliparous

9 (52%)

7 (58%)

2 (40%)

Gravida

> 1

12(70%)

9(75%)

3(60%)

= 1

5(29%)

3(25%)

2(40%)

Gestational age at diagnosis (weeks)

36.87± 2.4

38.0 ± 1.7

34.1 ± 1.5**

Ethnicity

White

1 (6%)

0 (0%)

1 (20%)

Hispanic

11 (65%)

7 (58%)

4 (80%)

Asian

5 (29%)

5 (41%)

0 (0%)

Gestational age at delivery (weeks)

37.38 ± 2.35

38.5 ± 1.38

34.54 ± 1.59

Co-morbidities

Diabetes

1(5%)

1(8%)

0(0%)

Hypertension

1(5%)

0(0%)

1(20%)

Asthma

1(5%)

0(0%)

1(20%)

Symptoms

Fever

7(41%)

5(41%)

2(40%)

Cough

17(100%)

12(100%)

5(100%)

Shortness of Breath

2(11%)

1(6%)

1(20%)

Medications in management

Plaquenil

8(47%)

5(41%)

3(60%)

Azithromycin

15(88%)

11(91%)

4(80%)

Rocephin

9(52%)

6(50%)

3(60%)

Pregnancy outcome

Cesarean Delivery

7(41%)

5(41%)

2(40%)

Vaginal delivery

9(52%)

6(50%)

3(60%)

VBAC

1(5%)

1(8%)

0(0%)

EBL

441 ± 183.1

458 ± 191.7

400 ± 173.2

Postpartum days total

2.12 ± 1.27

2.33 ± 1.23

1.09 ± 1.5

Neonatal outcome

Birth weight (grams)

3053.1 ± 989

3322.5 ± 541

2245 ± 250**

Apgar score at 5 minutes

9 ± 2.1

9 ± 0

9 ± 4.02

TTN

4(23%)

1(8%)

3(60%)**

Sepsis

1(5%)

0

1(20%)

IVH

0

0

1(20%)

NICU admission

10(58%)

6(50%)

4(80%)

Continuous variables are mean ± SD. Categorical variables are n (%). VBAC = Vaginal Birth After Cesarean Delivery. EBL = Estimated Blood Loss. TTN – Transient Tachypnea of Newborn. IVH = Intraventricular Hemorrhage. NICU = Neonatal Intensive Care Unit ** p < 0.01

Table 1: Patient demographics and pregnancy outcomes comparing term deliveries with those that delivered preterm (<37 weeks).

fortune-biomass-feedstock

Figure 1: Gestational age on admission comparing those women that delivered full term versus those women delivering preterm (< 37 weeks).

Variable

Coefficient

95% Confidence Interval

p-value

Lower

Upper

Parity

-0.079

-0.316

0.158

0.475

Maternal Age

0.031

-0.015

0.077

0.168

Gestational age at diagnosis

0.945

0.858

1.031

<0.001

Lowest O2 saturation % (room air)

-0.011

-0.083

0.062

0.746

Initial WBC Count

0.142

0.065

0.219

0.002

Temperature maximum

0.028

-0.142

0.198

0.722

Lymphocytes count %

0.038

0.012

0.063

0.008

O2=oxygen

Table 2: Multiple regression analysis of clinical parameters available on admission for the prediction of gestational age of delivery.

4. Discussion

The preterm delivery rate in COVID-19 infected symptomatic pregnant women was higher than anticipated. Our institution’s preterm delivery rate for a similar time period (March through May 2019), using the same inclusion and exclusion criteria, was 2.7%. In 2018, preterm birth affected 1 of every 10 infants born in the United States [11] and 8.8% in New York City [12] and this rate did not exclude iatrogenic preterm birth or women with risk factors for preterm birth such as short cervix, history of preterm birth, infection, or multiple gestation. Though a small sample size, our finding of a 29% preterm delivery rate in a low-risk cohort is clinically significant and relevant to the current pandemic. COVID-19 infection diagnosed during the third trimester should be considered a significant risk factor for preterm birth in the low-risk population. Prior data regarding COVID-19 infection and preterm delivery is limited. Two case series studied preterm birth in pregnant women with COVID-19, [13, 14] but did not exclusively examine spontaneous preterm birth in low-risk populations. A meta-analysis by Di Mascio et al reported a preterm birth rate as high as 41.1% in the COVID-19 pregnancy population [4], but COVID-19 confirmation was variable and the study did not focus on a low-risk population.

Our observational study is important to the literature surrounding COVID-19 in pregnancy given its focus on a low-risk population for preterm birth. Analysis of the clinical admission parameters in symptomatic COVID-19 positive patients in our study shows that a lower gestational age on admission, lower maternal white blood cell count, and lower total lymphocyte count are possible risk factors for preterm delivery in this population. These same variables remain significant when predicting preterm birth in the multivariable regression model. These variables might be clinical indicators of poor prognosis in the COVID 19 pregnant population. Future prospective trials should focus on these variables further, and our findings suggest that a symptomatic COVID-19 positive pregnant woman presenting for evaluation during the third trimester may require prolonged observation and potential intervention to improve pregnancy outcome prognosis.

We surmise that COVID-19 infection may act in a similar manner to other viral infections in causing preterm labor. Other viral infections can cause an inflammatory response in the host which results in the release of cytokines, chemokines prostaglandins, and other effector molecules. The inflammatory response is mediated by specific receptors on mononuclear phagocytes, decidual cells, cervical epithelia, and trophoblasts. Infection, even subclinical, can release cytokines such as interleukin-1 beta which can promote a series of responses that include increased synthesis of other cytokines such as IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF- alpha) 2) proliferation, activation, and migration of leukocytes. Release of cytokines can also cause modifications in extracellular matrix proteins and mitogenic cytotoxic effects such as fever and acute phase response [15]. IL-1 also promotes prostaglandin formation in many tissues, including myometrium decidua, and amnion [16]. This can lead to the characteristic phenomenon of labor, uterine contractions and rupture of fetal membranes. The importance of prostaglandins in infection-mediated preterm birth is supported by the observation that prostaglandin inhibitors can reduce the rate of LPS-induced preterm birth in both the mouse and non-human primate, and inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 prevents inflammation-mediated preterm labor in mouse studies [17]. Though it is likely that COVID-19 infection may lead to a similar cytokine and prostaglandin release, future research will be necessary to elucidate the specific mechanisms. The strength of our study is that all COVID-19 infections were confirmed by nasopharyngeal RT-PCR testing, which is the gold standard [6]. Additionally, our study focused on the low-risk population for preterm birth. The weaknesses of our study include a small sample size at a single institution, which decreases the generalizability of our findings.

5. Conclusion

Symptomatic COVID-19 infection seems to be a significant risk factor for spontaneous preterm delivery, especially if the gestational age on admission is below 37 weeks, the white blood cell count is low, and the lymphocyte percentage is decreased. Special attention should be given to this population should they present with preterm labor symptoms.

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  6. World Health Organization. Laboratory testing for 2019 novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) in suspected human cases. Interim guidance (2020).
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  12. March of Dimes (2020).
  13. Favre G, Pomar L, Musso D, et al. 2019-nCoV epidemic: what about pregnancies?. Lancet (London, England) (2020).
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  17. Gross G, Imamura T, Vogt SK, et al. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase-2 prevents inflammation-mediated preterm labor in the mouse. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 278 (2000): R1415-R1423.

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