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Am J Perinatol 2025; 42(03): 301-309
DOI: 10.1055/a-2347-3608
Original Article

Pregnancy-Related and Neonatal Outcomes during Omicron Variant-Dominant COVID-19 Pandemic among the Black-Dominant Population

Daniel D. Min
1   Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
,
Jae H. Min
2   Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York
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Abstract

Objective This study aimed to determine the effect of the Omicron variant on pregnancy-related and neonatal outcomes among the Black-dominant population.

Study Design We performed a single-center, retrospective cohort study during the prepandemic period from December 1, 2019, to February 29, 2020, and the Omicron surging period from December 1, 2021, to February 28, 2022. A total of 518 pregnant women were admitted for delivery during the study period. Multiple gestations (n = 21) and deliveries at less than 20 weeks of gestation (n = 5) were excluded. We analyzed and compared the sociodemographic and clinical data from mothers and their neonates between the two cohorts as well as between severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) positive and negative mothers during the Omicron surge. Subgroup analyses were also conducted specifically among the Black-only population.

Results The cohorts were predominantly Black (88.6%), with smaller proportions of Hispanic (8.9%), Asian (0.8%), White (0.8%), and other ethnicities (0.8%). Of 492 singleton deliveries, 275 live births, 8 (2.8%) stillbirths, and 31 (11.3%) preterm births (PTBs) occurred during the prepandemic period, and 207 live births, 2 (1%) stillbirths, and 33 (15.9%) PTBs occurred during the Omicron wave. There was no statistically significant difference in the rates of PTBs, stillbirths, medically indicated PTBs, and cesarean delivery between the two cohorts. SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers were not at an increased risk of adverse outcomes. However, neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission rate significantly increased among neonates born to SARS-CoV-2 positive mothers compared with negative mothers (32.3 vs. 16.5%, p = 0.038). In subgroup analyses among Black individuals, this difference was not observed.

Conclusion There was no significant difference in pregnancy-related or neonatal outcomes in the Black-dominant population between the two cohorts. SARS-CoV-2 infection did not alter these findings except for an increased NICU admission rate among neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers.

Key Points

  • Most pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during the Omicron wave were asymptomatic.

  • The Omicron wave did not increase the risk of pregnancy-related or neonatal adverse outcomes when compared with the prepandemic period.

  • Maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection increased NICU admission rate.

  • Among Black individuals, no significant increase in adverse outcomes was observed during the Omicron pandemic.

Keywords

COVID-19 - Omicron - Black-dominant population - neonatal outcome - pregnancy outcome

Supplementary Material



Publication History

Received: 10 February 2024

Accepted: 13 June 2024

Accepted Manuscript online:
18 June 2024

Article published online:
11 July 2024

© 2024. Thieme. All rights reserved.

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