COVID-19 vaccination around the time of conception and risk of placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Introduction

Although numerous studies have documented no association between COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy and maternal and fetal health outcomes, fewer studies have evaluated fetal health effects after COVID-19 vaccination around the time of conception and early pregnancy, a time when maternal exposures may affect early placentation and the subsequent risk of placenta-mediated adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Material and Methods

We used province-wide databases in Ontario to conduct a population-based cohort study including all live and stillbirths ≥20 weeks' gestation with a last menstrual period (LMP) between April 1 and December 31, 2021. We deterministically linked birth registry data to the vaccine registry for all 80 253 eligible pregnancies; 31 209 (38.9%) received ≥1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine around the time of conception or first trimester. Using Cox regression, we estimated propensity score weighted hazard ratios (aHR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between ≥1 dose of mRNA COVID-19 vaccine during the periconceptional/first trimester exposure window (28 days before the LMP to the end of first trimester) and study outcomes: hypertensive disorders (gestational hypertension, preeclampsia, eclampsia), placental abruption, preterm birth (<37 weeks), small-for-gestational-age (SGA) birth (<10th percentile), and stillbirth.

Results

COVID-19 vaccination around the time of conception or first trimester was associated with a small increased risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy in exposed versus unexposed individuals (7.4% vs. 6.1%; aHR: 1.10, 95% CI: 1.03–1.17), mostly attributed to gestational hypertension (5.0% vs. 4.1%; aHR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.05–1.22). There was no increased risk of preeclampsia (1.8% vs. 1.5%; aHR 1.08, 95% CI: 0.95–1.22), eclampsia (0.1% vs. 0.1%; aHR: 1.12, 95% CI 0.65–1.95), placental abruption (0.8% vs. 1.0%; aHR: 0.77, 95%CI: 0.65–0.91), preterm birth (8.0% vs. 8.9%; aHR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.87–0.97), SGA birth (8.9% vs. 9.3%; aHR: 1.00, 95%CI: 0.95–1.06), or stillbirth (0.4% vs. 0.6%; aHR: 0.66, 95%CI: 0.52–0.82).

Conclusions

This population-based Canadian study provides additional evidence evaluating COVID-19 vaccine administration around the start of pregnancy. While we identified no association with most placenta-mediated outcomes, we report a slight increase in the rate of gestational hypertension. This could be a true association or attributed to residual confounding. Further research is needed to verify.