National Swedish study to examine Covid-19 impact on pregnancy

A new national study initiated from the University of Gothenburg, covering a majority of Sweden’s birth centres, is focusing on how Covid-19 affects pregnancy and fetal development.

The COPE (Covid-19 in Pregnancy and Early Childhood) study was initiated by Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University Hospital. It is being conducted with support of the Swedish Network for National Clinical Studies in Obstetrics and Gynecology.

The study’s lead researcher is Verena Sengpiel, and Lina Bergman is responsible researcher with main focus on the biological samples on a national level. Both are obstetricians at Sahlgrenska University Hospital and researchers at Sahlgrenska Academy.

The study is one of few worldwide that is investigating the effects of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in relation to pregnancy by connecting biological samples with national registries and questionnaire data. The sample collection is being coordinated by Biobank Core Facilities at Sahlgrenska Academy and Biobank West, a joint facility run by Region Västra Götaland and the University of Gothenburg.

Aspects investigated in the study include women’s health, pregnancy, fetal development and the newborn’s health. The researchers are also investigating possible routes of transmission of infection from an infected mother to her newborn, such as childbirth and breastfeeding.

Bergman said: “There are some viruses and bacteria that increase the risk for intrauterine growth restriction, premature birth and fetal malformations. Furthermore, some viruses can affect the child’s development in the long term. For this reason, it is important for us to learn more about SARS-CoV-2 and pregnancy related complications.”

With greater knowledge of the risks, healthcare services can plan, for example, to monitor pregnancy and decide when and how an infected woman should deliver her baby. To date, research in this area is limited, according to Sengpiel.

She said: “The study will give us an insight on how common SARS-CoV-2 is during pregnancy in Sweden, and even how asymptomatic infections might impact the mothers and child’s health.”

“We will be able to follow up newborns from a mother who had Covid-19. We will look at the child’s susceptibility to infection, growth, development, and health in general. Based on these data, we can plan monitoring of the children and decide whether extra investigations or supportive measures are necessary.”

The project involves a national group of researchers in obstetrics, neonatology, infectious disease medicine, anesthesia, intensive care medicine, and political science. The biobank sampling protocol has been designed according to standardised principle and recommendations, through Biobank Sweden.

Wahida Sarwari, project manager at Core Facilities, said that the biobanks prioritise projects related to the novel coronavirus.

She said: “We have been able to act fast and coordinate the study across the country, thanks to Biobank Sweden’s networks for sample service coordinators. At the same time, we are doing well by international standards as some biobanks in other countries have shut down during this pandemic.”

The study also includes questionnaire surveys, interviews and rating scales for monitoring a child’s health up to the age of one and investigating the women’s and their partners’ experience of pregnancy and childbirth during a pandemic. Couples who are directly affected by the mother being diagnosed with Covid-19 as well as healthy couples will participate in this part of the study.
Source: University of Gothenburg

Staff Writer