SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study

Abstract Introduction Data from different countries show partly controversial impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on pregnancy outcomes. A nationwide register‐based study was conducted in Estonia to assess the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at any time during pregnancy on stillbirth, perinatal mortality,...

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Main Authors: Piret Veerus, Oskar Nõmm, Kaire Innos, Kärt Allvee, Helle Karro
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2024-02-01
Series:Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14721
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author Piret Veerus
Oskar Nõmm
Kaire Innos
Kärt Allvee
Helle Karro
author_facet Piret Veerus
Oskar Nõmm
Kaire Innos
Kärt Allvee
Helle Karro
author_sort Piret Veerus
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Introduction Data from different countries show partly controversial impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on pregnancy outcomes. A nationwide register‐based study was conducted in Estonia to assess the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at any time during pregnancy on stillbirth, perinatal mortality, Apgar score at 5 minutes, cesarean section rates, rates of preterm birth and preeclampsia. Material and methods Data on all newborns and their mothers were obtained from the Estonian Medical Birth Registry, and data on SARS‐CoV‐2 testing dates, test results and vaccination dates against SARS‐CoV‐2 from the Estonian Health Information System. Altogether, 26 211 births in 2020 and 2021 in Estonia were included. All analyses were performed per newborn. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were analyzed for all outcomes, adjusted for mother's place of residence, body mass index, age of mother at delivery and hypertension and for all the aforementioned variables together with mother's vaccination status using data from 2021 when vaccinations against SARS‐CoV‐2 became available. For studying the effect of a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test during pregnancy on preeclampsia, hypertension was omitted from the models to avoid overadjustment. Results SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.81; 95% CI 1.37–5.74) and perinatal mortality (aOR 2.34; 95% CI 1.20–4.56) but not with a lower Apgar score at 5 minutes, higher risk of cesarean section, preeclampsia or preterm birth. Vaccination slightly decreased the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy on perinatal mortality. Conclusions A positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test during pregnancy was associated with higher rates of stillbirth and perinatal mortality in Estonia but was not associated with change in preeclampsia, cesarean section or preterm birth rates.
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spelling doaj-art-dd34fd17d4354b65a564e12f40059aea2025-08-20T02:09:24ZengWileyActa Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica0001-63491600-04122024-02-01103225025610.1111/aogs.14721SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based studyPiret Veerus0Oskar Nõmm1Kaire Innos2Kärt Allvee3Helle Karro4Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics National Institute for Health Development Tallinn EstoniaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics National Institute for Health Development Tallinn EstoniaDepartment of Epidemiology and Biostatistics National Institute for Health Development Tallinn EstoniaEstonian Medical Birth Registry National Institute for Health Development Tallinn EstoniaUniversity of Tartu Tartu EstoniaAbstract Introduction Data from different countries show partly controversial impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection on pregnancy outcomes. A nationwide register‐based study was conducted in Estonia to assess the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection at any time during pregnancy on stillbirth, perinatal mortality, Apgar score at 5 minutes, cesarean section rates, rates of preterm birth and preeclampsia. Material and methods Data on all newborns and their mothers were obtained from the Estonian Medical Birth Registry, and data on SARS‐CoV‐2 testing dates, test results and vaccination dates against SARS‐CoV‐2 from the Estonian Health Information System. Altogether, 26 211 births in 2020 and 2021 in Estonia were included. All analyses were performed per newborn. Odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were analyzed for all outcomes, adjusted for mother's place of residence, body mass index, age of mother at delivery and hypertension and for all the aforementioned variables together with mother's vaccination status using data from 2021 when vaccinations against SARS‐CoV‐2 became available. For studying the effect of a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test during pregnancy on preeclampsia, hypertension was omitted from the models to avoid overadjustment. Results SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of stillbirth (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 2.81; 95% CI 1.37–5.74) and perinatal mortality (aOR 2.34; 95% CI 1.20–4.56) but not with a lower Apgar score at 5 minutes, higher risk of cesarean section, preeclampsia or preterm birth. Vaccination slightly decreased the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy on perinatal mortality. Conclusions A positive SARS‐CoV‐2 test during pregnancy was associated with higher rates of stillbirth and perinatal mortality in Estonia but was not associated with change in preeclampsia, cesarean section or preterm birth rates.https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14721Estoniaperinatal mortalitypregnancy outcomesSARS‐CoV‐2stillbirth
spellingShingle Piret Veerus
Oskar Nõmm
Kaire Innos
Kärt Allvee
Helle Karro
SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study
Acta Obstetricia et Gynecologica Scandinavica
Estonia
perinatal mortality
pregnancy outcomes
SARS‐CoV‐2
stillbirth
title SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study
title_full SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study
title_fullStr SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study
title_full_unstemmed SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study
title_short SARS‐CoV‐2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in Estonia in 2020 and 2021: A register‐based study
title_sort sars cov 2 infection during pregnancy and perinatal outcomes in estonia in 2020 and 2021 a register based study
topic Estonia
perinatal mortality
pregnancy outcomes
SARS‐CoV‐2
stillbirth
url https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.14721
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AT kaireinnos sarscov2infectionduringpregnancyandperinataloutcomesinestoniain2020and2021aregisterbasedstudy
AT kartallvee sarscov2infectionduringpregnancyandperinataloutcomesinestoniain2020and2021aregisterbasedstudy
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