COVID Reference

The COVID Textbook

Anne

First Article

31 July

Cousins S. COVID-19 has “devastating” effect on women and girls. Lancet 2020; 396: P301-302, 1 August. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)31679-2

Fears are increasing that the COVID-19 pandemic will interfere with women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and their access to care. In March, WHO issued interim guidance for maintaining essential services during an outbreak, which included advice to avert maternal and child mortality and morbidity. Will the deep existing inequalities COVID-19 has brought to the foreground encourage more action in the future?

PubMed Links

  1. Women’s Health or Reproductive Health Services: https://pmlegacy.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=(covid-19+OR+SARS-CoV-2)+AND+(Women%27s+Health%5Bmh%5D+OR+Reproductive+Health+Services%5Bmh%5D) – This morning, 15 September, 61 articles.
  2. (Women’s Health or Reproductive Health Services) and jubsetaim (subset of important journals, corresponding to roughly 10% of all Pubmed articles): https://pmlegacy.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/?term=jsubsetaim+AND+(covid-19+OR+SARS-CoV-2)+AND+(Women%27s+Health%5Bmh%5D+OR+Reproductive+Health+Services%5Bmh%5D) – This morning, 15 September, just 9 articles…
  3. Vertical Transmission: Important journals (jsubsetaim)  |  All journals

COVID Reference

2nd Edition (April 2020): Pregnancy

Dong L, Tian J, He S, et al. Possible Vertical Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 From an Infected Mother to Her Newborn. JAMA. 2020 Mar 26. pii: 2763853. Abstract: https://pubmed.gov/32215581. Fulltext: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.4621

Li Y, Zhao R, Zheng S, et al. Lack of Vertical Transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2, China. Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 Jun 17;26(6). Abstract: https://pubmed.gov/32134381. Fulltext: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2606.200287

Liu D, Li L, Wu X, et al. Pregnancy and Perinatal Outcomes of Women With Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) Pneumonia: A Preliminary Analysis. AJR Am J Roentgenol. 2020 Mar 18:1-6. https://doi.org/10.2214/AJR.20.23072

Qiao J. What are the risks of COVID-19 infection in pregnant women? Lancet. 2020 Mar 7;395(10226):760-762. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30365-2

Rasmussen SA, Jamieson DJ. Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and Pregnancy: Responding to a Rapidly Evolving Situation. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Mar 19. Abstract: https://pubmed.gov/32213786. Fulltext: https://doi.org/10.1097/AOG.0000000000003873

Schwartz DA. An Analysis of 38 Pregnant Women with COVID-19, Their Newborn Infants, and Maternal-Fetal Transmission of SARS-CoV-2: Maternal Coronavirus Infections and Pregnancy Outcomes. Arch Pathol Lab Med. 2020 Mar 17. https://doi.org/10.5858/arpa.2020-0901-SA

Wang SS, Zhou X, Lin XG, et al. Experience of Clinical Management for Pregnant Women and Newborns with Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in Tongji Hospital, China. Curr Med Sci. 2020 Mar 26. pii: 10.1007/s11596-020-2174-4. Abstract: https://pubmed.gov/32219626. Fulltext: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11596-020-2174-4

 

Top 10

4 April

Poon LC, Yang H, Kapur A, et al. Global interim guidance on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during pregnancy and puerperium from FIGO and allied partners: Information for healthcare professionals. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2020 Apr 4. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32248521. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.13156

The International Federation of Gynaecology and Obstetrics which gives “interim” recommendations about how to deal with pregnant women: 46 pages on ambulatory antenatal care, management in the setting of the obstetrical triage, intra/postpartum management and neonatal care.

6 April

Zaigham M, Andersson O. Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes with COVID-19: a systematic review of 108 pregnancies. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2020 Apr 7. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32259279. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1111/aogs.13867

Systematic review among 108 pregnancies published in 18 articles. 91% were delivered by cesarean section. Three maternal intensive care unit admissions were noted but no maternal deaths. One neonatal death and one intrauterine death were also reported.

10 April

Bourne T, Kyriacou C, Coomarasamy A, et al. ISUOG Consensus Statement on rationalization of early-pregnancy care and provision of ultrasonography in context of SARS-CoV-2. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol. 2020 Apr 8. PubMed: https://pubmed.gov/32267981. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1002/uog.22046

Statement on how to rationalize ultrasound and to manage early pregnancy complications in this crisis.

12 July

Khalil A, von Dadelszen P, Draycott T, et al. Change in the Incidence of Stillbirth and Preterm Delivery During the COVID-19 Pandemic. JAMA July 10, 2020. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2020.12746

Pregnancy outcomes at St George’s University Hospital, London, were evaluated in two periods: from October 2019 to January 2020 and from February to June 2020. The incidence of stillbirth was significantly higher during the pandemic period (9.31 per 1000) than during the pre-pandemic period (2.38 per 1000). Of note, the increase in stillbirths may have also resulted from indirect effects such as reluctance to attend hospital when needed, fear of contracting infection, or not wanting to add to the National Health Service burden. Changes in obstetric services may have played a role secondary to staff shortages or reduced antenatal visits, ultrasound scans, and/or screening.

 

2 September

Allotey J, Stallings E, Bonet M, et al. Clinical manifestations, risk factors, and maternal and perinatal outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 in pregnancy: living systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2020, published 1 September. Full-text: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.m3320

In this ‘living review’ and meta-analysis of 77 studies, Shakila Thangaratinam, John Allotey and colleagues warn that pregnant women are less likely to manifest COVID-19 related symptoms of fever and myalgia than non-pregnant women of reproductive age and are potentially more likely to need intensive care treatment for COVID-19. Unsurprisingly, risk factors for severe COVID-19 in pregnancy would include increasing maternal age, high body mass index, and pre-existing comorbidities.