A Meta-Analysis for Prevalence of Cesarean Section, Preterm Birth, Stillbirth, and Low Birth Weight Deliveries in Infected Pregnant Women with COVID-19

Mojgan Karimi-Zarchi; David A. Schwartz; Seyed Alireza Dastgheib; Reza Bahrami; Atiyeh Javaheri; Alireza Emarati; Fatemeh Asadian; Elahe Akbarian; Hossein Neamatzadeh

doi:10.18502/wjpn.v4i1.7542

Mojgan Karimi-Zarchi Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Firoozgar Hospital, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
David A. Schwartz Department of Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA, USA
Seyed Alireza Dastgheib Department of Medical Genetics, School of Medicine, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Reza Bahrami Neonatal Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Atiyeh Javaheri Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Alireza Emarati Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Fatemeh Asadian Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, School of Paramedical Science, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
Elahe Akbarian Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
Hossein Neamatzadeh Mother and Newborn Health Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/wjpn.v4i1.7542

Keywords: SARS-COV-2; COVID-19; Preterm Birth; Stillbirth; Cesarean Section; Low Birth Weight

Abstract

Background: The aim of this meta-analysis was to estimate the prevalence of cesarean section (CS), preterm birth, stillbirth, and low birth weight deliveries (LBWD) in pregnant women with SARS-COV-2 infection.

Methods: All relevant studies were searched up to 30 February 2021.

Results: A total of 47 studies with 5970 infected pregnant women were included. There were 1010 CS, 55 stillbirths, 524 preterm birth, and 82 with LBWD. Pooled data showed that the prevalence of CS, preterm birth, stillbirth, and LBWD among women with SARS-COV-2 infection was 29.6% (95% CI 0.081-0.160), 2.1% (95% CI 0.081-0.160), 11.5% (95% CI 0.081-0.160), and 2.1% (95% CI 0.081-0.160), respectively. Stratified analysis revealed that these pregnancy outcomes among Asian women were higher than Caucasians.

Conclusion: Our combined data revealed that the CS prevalence (29.6%) was the highest followed by preterm birth (11.5%), stillbirth (2.1%), and LBWD (2.1%) among women with COVID-19.