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DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730480
Perinatal and postpartum care during the COVID-19 pandemic: a nationwide cohort study
Einleitung The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic, due to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, limited services during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth that affected families worldwide. However, data on the effects of limiting obstetrical care during the pandemic’s first wave are sparse.
Material und Methodik This nationwide cohort study analyzed birth registry data from 82 obstetric departments in Austria. Women who delivered between January and June 2020 (COVID-19 period) were classified as cases. Women who delivered between January and June 2015–2019 (non-COVID-19 period) were classified as controls. We excluded data concerning preterm delivery, birthweight <500 g, multiple fetuses, fetal malformations and chromosomal anomalies, intrauterine fetal death, maternal cancer, or HIV-infection, and inter-hospital transfers. Postpartum hospitalization, adverse event occurrence and perinatal outcomes were observed.
Ergebnisse Of 33,198 cases and 188,225 controls, data analysis showed significantly increased rates of induction of labor, instrumental delivery, obstetric anesthesia, NICU transfer, and 5-min Apgar score <7 during the COVID-19 period. There was a significantly shorter length of postpartum hospitalization during the COVID-19 period compared to the non-COVID-19 period (3.1±1.4 days vs. 3.5±1.5 days; p <0.001). Significantly more women opted for outpatient delivery during the COVID-19 period (3.7% vs. 2.4%; p <0.001). Those who delivered during the COVID-19 period were also more likely to experience postpartum adverse events (3.0% vs. 2.6%, p<0.001), and blood transfusion in particular. Logistic regression analysis showed the postpartum risk of adverse events increased during the COVID-19 period (odds ratio, 2.137; 95% confidence interval, 1.805–2.530; p <0.001).
Zusammenfassung Perinatal and postpartum care during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic differed significantly from that provided before. Increased rates of adverse events and impaired neonatal outcomes underline the need to ensure access to high quality perinatal care and prevent further collateral damage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Interessenskonflikt Keiner.
Publication History
Article published online:
02 June 2021
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Literatur
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