Association Between Maternal COVID-19 Severity and Neonatal Outcome in a Tertiary Hospital
Lyzel M. Tagud, M.D., Mary Crist A. Delos Santos-Jamora, M.D.

ABSTRACT
Background: During the COVID-19 outbreak, studies indicated that neonates born to COVID-19-positive mothers are susceptible to adverse outcomes.However, limited research explored the link between maternal COVID-19 severity and perinatal outcomes.
Objectives: To determine the characteristics and outcomes of newborns born to COVID-19 positive mothers and its association with maternal COVID-19 severity.
Methodology: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in a tertiary hospital which involved a retrospective chart review of mother-newborn dyads who delivered between June 1, 2020, and December 31, 2022.
Results: One hundred forty COVID-19 infected mothers and their respective newborns (143) were included in the study. Majority of mothers were 18 – 30 yrs. old, multigravida, multiparous, delivered by normal spontaneous delivery (NSD) and were asymptomatic. Only 3.6 % have severe COVID-19. Neonatal outcome was generally good in both non-infected and COVID-19 infected newborns. Most were term, with normal birthweights, appropriate for gestational age (AGA), with good APGAR scores. Hyperbilirubinemia is a common morbidity (15%). There is a higher prevalence of preterm births, low birth weight, low APGAR score in the 5th minute of life, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), neonatal sepsis, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission and mortality among neonates born to mothers with severe COVID-19, but there is no statistically significant association between maternal COVID – 19 severity and neonatal outcome except for APGAR score on the 5th minute of life.
Conclusion: Most COVID-19-infected pregnant women were asymptomatic and neonatal outcomes were generally favorable. Maternal COVID-19 severity did not substantially contribute to adverse neonatal outcomes.

KEYWORDS: Neonates, COVID-19, Outcome, Covid-19 confirmed mothers
https://doi.org/10.56964/pidspj20242501007
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