Analysis of Fetal Growth and Pregnancy Outcome in Pregnant Women Infected with Novel Coronavirus in Mid-Pregnancy

Juan Zhang, Juan Wu, Hongbin Zhang, Jie Li, Hezhou Li Department of Ultrasound, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Hezhou Li, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, No. 7 Kangfuqian Street, Erqi District, Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, Email 15517560603@163.comPurpose: To investigate whether fetal prenatal ultrasound, fetal growth rate, and pregnancy outcome statistically differ between women infected with novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in mid-pregnancy and an uninfected control group.Patients and Methods: A retrospective analysis of biparietal diameter (BPD), head circumference (HC), abdominal circumference (AC), femur length (FL), and z-scores for each among 46 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 in mid-pregnancy between December 01, 2022 and June 31, 2023 was conducted. A control group included 92 pregnant women negative for COVID-19 during the same period and was also analyzed. To examine fetal growth, rate of increase in BPD, HC, AC, FL, and estimated fetal weight (EFW) between second and third trimester scans were analyzed. In addition, pregnancy outcome, maternal comorbidities, and neonatal prognosis were assessed.Results: The occurrence of gestational diabetes differed significantly between groups, but the fetal growth rate and EFW did not. Similarly, pregnancy outcomes and neonatal prognoses did not differ significantly between groups.Conclusion: Gestational diabetes was a complication that differed between patients with and without COVID-19 in this study. COVID-19 in pregnant women did not affect fetal development. Therefore, these preliminary data suggest that increased fetal monitoring is not necessary for women infected with COVID-19 during the second trimester, and these women should be reassured of the low risk of adverse fetal outcomes.Keywords: novel coronavirus, pregnant women, prenatal fetal growth, pregnancy outcome, ultrasound imaging