Gamma <scp>SARS</scp> ‐ <scp>CoV</scp> ‐2 variant of concern infection repercussions on pregnancy outcomes: A translational cohort study
OBJECTIVE: This study conduct viral genome sequencing among severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-infected pregnant and postpartum individuals, and investigates disease severity and maternal and perinatal outcomes considering variant of concern (VOC) and non-VOC groups. METHODS: The study was designed as a prospective cohort study of unvaccinated pregnant and postpartum women with SARS-CoV-2 infection diagnosed by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction between May 2020 and April 2021 at a maternal referral center. Initially, 111 participants were identified, and 50 presented with conditions for genome sequencing and further analysis. The SARS-CoV-2 genome was subjected to next-generation sequencing in eligible cases. Sociodemographic characteristics, background, and clinical and obstetric outcomes were compared according to the SARS-CoV-2 genomic data (VOC vs. non-VOC). RESULTS: Among the sequenced cases, 18 were classified as VOC, among which 14 were Gamma cases and four Alpha. Oxygen desaturation, hospitalization, intensive care unit admission, invasive ventilation, and maternal death were significantly higher in SARS-CoV-2 VOC-infected than in non-VOC-infected cases. All three cases of maternal death were classified as VOC, including two Gamma and one Alpha. CONCLUSION: Pregnant and postpartum people presented with an increased morbidity and mortality due to COVID-19 caused by SARS-CoV-2 VOC, especially Gamma. The increased risk of clinical severity in the unvaccinated obstetric population underscores the importance of addressing the repercussions of the SARS-CoV-2 genomic evolution.
Authors
- Angélica Zaninelli Schreiber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5095-5054)
- Giuliane Jesus Lajos (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0268-3303)
- Kamila Cristina Silva Krywacz
- Julia Forato (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6247-9657)
- Carolina C. Ribeiro‐do‐Valle (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2630-9909)
- José Guilherme Cecatti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1285-8445)
- Maria Luíza Moretti (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2280-5649)
- Priscilla P. Barbosa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4403-4395)
- Adriana Gomes Luz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9863-9993)
- Rodrigo G. Stábeli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0476-920X)
- Maria Laura Costa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8280-3234)
- Fernando Rosado Spilki (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5804-7045)
- Mariene R. Amorim (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8516-0155)
- Fabiana Granja (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3602-8550)
- Luciana Souto Mofatto
- Gisele Audrei Pedroso (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0962-9940)
- William M. de Souza
- Renato Teixeira Souza
- Guilherme Moraes Nobrega
- José Paulo S. Guida
- José Luiz Proenca-Modena
- Magnun N. N. Santos
- Rodolfo C. Pacagnella
- Rodrigo N. Angerami
- Giuliana D. Moreno
- Ester C. Sabino
- Daniel A. Toledo‐Teixeira
- Nuno R. Faria
Institutions
- Universidade Feevale (BR)
- Universidade de São Paulo (BR)
- Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP) (BR)
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical (PY)
- Universidade Federal de Roraima (BR)
- Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (TH)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (BR)
- The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (US)
- Pontifícia Universidade Católica de Campinas (BR)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics
- Published
- 2026-03-31
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.70985
- Primary Topic
- COVID-19 Impact on Reproduction
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo
- Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior
- Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico
- Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos
- Fundo de Apoio ao Ensino, à Pesquisa e Extensão, Universidade Estadual de Campinas