CDC: Birth, infant outcomes after COVID-19 in pregnancy

Editor's Note

In this analysis of COVID-19 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the proportion of preterm live births in women with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was higher than that in the general population in 2019, suggesting that pregnant women with COVID-19 infection might be at risk for preterm delivery.

Of 3,912 infants born to women with COVID-19 infection, 12.9% were preterm at less than 37 weeks, which is higher than a national estimate of 10.2%.

Of 610 infants with testing results, 2.6% were positive for COVID-19, and were primarily those born to women with COVID-19 infection at delivery.

Studies comparing pregnant women with and without COVID-19 are needed to assess the actual risk of preterm birth, the researchers say.