A Prospective Study on the Prevalence of Coronavirus Disease 19 Infection in Antenatal Patients at Term and Its Effects on Maternal-fetal Health and on Early Childhood Development

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) has become a global pandemic; its unparalleled speed of spread has left us all in a worldwide alarming situation. The aim was to study the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic antenatal patients at term and its maternal and fetal outcomes and neonates being followed up till 18 months for developmental assessment. This was a prospective observational study carried out from September 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023. This prospective observational study was conducted on 250 pregnant women attending the antenatal care outpatient department in a Zonal Hospital in Northeastern India expected to undergo delivery in the next 5 days, and all suspected COVID-19 pregnant women were included in the study. Asymptomatic pregnant women not expecting delivery in the next 5 days were excluded. All neonates born to these 250 mothers were followed till 18 months of age and were then assessed for the impact of COVID-19 on the developmental milestones. The prevalence of COVID-19 was calculated in the study population. The Chi-square test was used to compare categorical variables in COVID-19-positive and -negative groups. P <0.05 was considered significant. The prevalence of COVID-19 infection in term pregnancies was found to be 4%. The findings of the study showed no immediate impact on maternal and fetal health from COVID-19 infection. However, on follow-up of these babies (born during the pandemic) at 18 months of age, there was a delay in social and language domains of development in 18.8% of children. Most women were discharged without any significant problems, and there were no signs that COVID-19 had been transmitted vertically. COVID-19 infection was found to have no immediate impact on maternal and neonatal health. However, follow-up at 18 months of babies born during the COVID-19 era revealed a delay in social and language milestones in 18.8% of children. Further multicentric studies with a larger population base need to be done to substantiate this claim.