COVID-19 vaccine and pregnancy outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2022 Dec;159(3):651-661. doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14336. Epub 2022 Jul 29.

Abstract

Objectives: To explore perinatal outcomes in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-vaccinated pregnant women compared with unvaccinated counterparts.

Methods: Search was conducted using Web of Science, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov, MEDLINE, Embase, OVID, and Cochrane Library as electronic databases. We included observational studies evaluating pregnant women undergoing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and compared pregnancy and perinatal outcomes with those in unvaccinated women. Categorical variables were assessed using odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI), whereas for continuous variables, the results were expressed as mean difference with their 95% CI. All analyses were performed by adopting the random effect model of DerSimonian and Laird.

Results: There was no difference in the probability of having a small-for-gestational-age fetus (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.85-1.09; P = 0.570), but we observed a reduced probability of a non-reassuring fetal monitoring, a reduced gestational age at delivery, and a reduced probability of premature delivery in vaccinated pregnant women versus unvaccinated ones.

Conclusion: The probability of small for gestational age is similar between vaccinated and unvaccinated pregnant women, and the former also had a slightly reduced rate of premature delivery.

Keywords: coronavirus disease 2019; meta-analysis; pregnancy; preterm birth; severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; small for gestational age; systematic review; vaccine.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Systematic Review
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19 Vaccines
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Fetal Growth Retardation
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious* / prevention & control
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Premature Birth* / prevention & control
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines