Doctors begin study into effects of coronavirus on pregnant women

The study is asking 6,000 women across the UK to share their experiences of pregnancy during the pandemic
PA
Ross Lydall @RossLydall11 August 2020

London doctors are investigating whether pregnant women who contract coronavirus are at increased risk of miscarriage or going into early labour.

A study by University College London is asking 6,000 women across the UK to share their experiences of pregnancy during the pandemic.

More than 5,000 have already signed up to the online questionnaire and a final 700 participants who are less than 12 weeks’ pregnant are being sought.

At least five pregnant women with coronavirus died in the early stages of the UK pandemic, including nurse Mary Agyapong, 28.

Mary Agyapong
BBC News

Dr Neera Balachandren, an obstetrics and gynaecology registrar and the study’s principle investigator, said the aim was to provide reassurance and advice for women ahead of a feared second wave of the virus.

She told the Standard: “If we show there is no difference in miscarriage rates and pre-term labour deliveries, we hope that will give assurances to women who want to fall pregnant during the next six months.”

According to the researchers, the existing evidence is “reassuring but limited”, which has led to “uncertainty” about the impact of Covid-19 in early pregnancy.

They said: “This uncertainty can create anxiety and may be leading to women changing their pregnancy intentions.”

A study by the UK Obstetric Surveillance System, published in May, revealed that five pregnant women with coronavirus had died, three “as a direct result of complications of Covid-19 and two from other causes”.

They were among 427 pregnant women admitted to hospital with coronavirus between March 1 and April 14. Most women were treated on a ward and were discharged home well, but about 10 per cent required intensive care.

Twelve babies tested positive for Covid-19, showing it was “uncommon” for the virus to pass from mother to child.

Five babies died – three were stillborn and two died soon after birth. Three of the deaths were unrelated to Covid but it was unclear whether the virus contributed to two of the stillbirths.

The majority of women who became severely ill were in their third trimester.

Ms Agyapong, who was 35 weeks’ pregnant, died with coronavirus and pneumonia in Luton and Dunstable hospital, where she had worked as a nurse for five years, on April 12.

Her baby daughter was delivered by emergency caesarean and survived. An inquest is due to reopen next month. It is not known if her death was included in the study.

Pregnant women from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds were more likely to be admitted to hospital for coronavirus, as were those over 35 and those who were overweight, obese or who had high blood pressure and/or diabetes.

Almost a fifth of the babies in the study were born prematurely and were admitted to a neonatal unit.

The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists says that all available evidence to date shows that pregnant women are “at no greater risk of becoming seriously unwell than other healthy adults” if they develop Covid-19.

However pregnant women have been placed in the group of people at “moderate risk” and are advised to observe social distancing and hand-washing, particularly after 28 weeks into the pregnancy.

Dr Balachandren said the UCL survey – which is due to have its first findings published by October - could also help to determine whether fertility services could continue in the event of a second wave.

“Right at the beginning of lockdown, IVF treatments completely came to a halt,” she said. “These results could indicate whether it’s necessary to stop IVF ​treatment again.”

Women had already used the survey to report problems accessing contraception in the early stages of the pandemic, she said.

Dr Balachandren said: “This will help us to make plans in the event of a second wave – things like access to contraception might not have been at the forefront of public health interventions initially.”

To take part in the study, visit https://cap-covid.uk/