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The first SARS-CoV-2 wave among pregnant women in Italy: results from a prospective population-based study

Serena Donati¹, Edoardo Corsi², Alice Maraschini³

¹Centro Nazionale per la Prevenzione delle Malattie e Promozione della Salute, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.

Annali Dell'Istituto Superiore Di Sanita

|January 25, 2022

Abstract

Introduction:

This study aimed to estimate the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection among pregnant women during the first pandemic wave in Italy, and to describe COVID-19 disease characteristics and maternal and perinatal outcomes.

Materials And Methods:

National population-based prospective cohort study collecting information on women with SARS-CoV-2 diagnosis, confirmed within 7 days from hospital admission.

Results:

The national SARS-CoV-2 rate was 6.04 per 1,000 births (95% CI 5.62-6.49) among pregnant women and 7.54 (95% CI 7.47-7.61) among women in reproductive age. 72.1% of the cohort developed mild COVID-19 disease without pneumonia nor need for ventilatory support. Severe disease was significantly associated with women's previous comorbidities (OR 2.55; 95% CI 0.98-6.90), obesity (OR 4.76; 95% CI 1.79-12.66) and citizenship from High Migration Pressure Countries (OR 3.43; 95% CI 1.27-9.25).

Conclusions:

During the first pandemic wave in Italy, the SARS-CoV-2 rate among pregnant women was lower compared to that detected among women of reproductive age, and risks of severe COVID-19 disease and adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes were rare.

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