Coronavirus and pregnancy in Italy: results of the national population-based cohort study coordinated by the Italian Obstetric Surveillance System
Year: 2020
Type: preprint
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Objectives To describe a cohort of Italian women with confirmed COVID-19 infection admitted during pregnancy for out or inpatient hospital care, in order to provide rapid feedback for clinicians and policymakers. Design National population-based cohort study. Setting 297 Italian public and private maternity units. Population Pregnant women with COVID-19 infection confirmed by RT-PCR testing through nasopharyngeal swab and/or chest RX or CT findings and/or antibody response from maternal blood. Exclusion criteria: age <18 years, refusal to participate and inability to give consent to participation. Methods A network of 351 trained reference clinicians enrols eligible women after acquiring an informed consent and completes a data entry form through a secure web-based system. Main outcome measures COVID-19 pneumonia, invasive respiratory support, ICU admission, women’s severe morbidity and mortality Results Over 80% of the 65 cases occurred in Northern Italy. Women’s mean age is 33.8 years. Gestational age at presentation is ≤14 weeks in 15.6% of the cases, 15-27 weeks in 51.6% and ≥28 weeks in 32.8% women. Pneumonia affects 41.5% of the cohort; three women have severe complications and are admitted to ICU. None has died. Conclusions The study describes the course of COVID-19 infection in a cohort of pregnant women, providing valuable information to improve clinical and logistical management of these cases. Questions arising from the study deserve further research.
Institutions: Istituto Superiore di Sanità, University of Rome Tor Vergata
Language: English
Subfield: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3036869802