Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39885438›Full record

ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2025

Reduced fetal movements and COVID-19 infection: a retrospective cohort study.

Amira Gentili, Irene Sterpu, Joanna Tingström, Eva Wiberg-Itzel

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Trial
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Amira GentiliDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institute, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, 118 83, Sweden.
Irene SterpuDivision of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Joanna TingströmDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institute, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, 118 83, Sweden.
Eva Wiberg-ItzelDepartment of Clinical Science and Education, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institute, Sodersjukhuset, Stockholm, 118 83, Sweden. Eva.wibergitzel@ki.se.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundFetal movements are an important indicator of fetal well-being; therefore, reduced fetal movements (RFMs) can indicate fetal compromise. RFM is associated with fetal growth restriction (FGR) and intrauterine fetal death (IUFD). Studies have implied that COVID-19 infection increases the risk of adverse fetal outcomes, such as preterm birth and IUFD. It is unclear how COVID-19 infection may aggravate these fetal outcomes among women presenting with RFM. The aims of the study were to (1) determine whether adverse fetal outcomes in women with RFM increased in 2020 compared to 2019, the year before the pandemic, and (2) evaluate whether maternal COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was a risk factor for adverse fetal outcomes in comparison to previously established risk factors among women seeking care for RFM.

methodsAll women who sought care due to RFM and were delivered at Soder Hospital from 2019 to 2020 were included. Fetal composite outcomes were constructed and compared between women with RFM and COVID-19 and women with RFM but without COVID-19.

resultsCOVID-19 infection did not increase the risk of adverse fetal outcomes in women who sought care for RFM. A twofold risk for adverse fetal outcomes was found among all primiparous women vs. multiparous women with RFM (98/788 [12.4%] vs 37/644 [9.8%], AOR = 2.5, 95% CI (1.6-3.7).

conclusionThe proportion of adverse composite outcomes among women with RFM during the first year of the pandemic did not increase compared to the year before. Composite outcomes were marginally higher in the COVID-19-positive group compared to the COVID-19-negative group, but it was not statistically significant.

Indexed as

COVID-19Fetal Growth RetardationFetal MovementPregnancy Complications, InfectiousAdultFemaleFetal DeathHumansPregnancyPregnancy OutcomePremature BirthRetrospective StudiesRisk FactorsSARS-CoV-2COVID-19Intrauterine fetal deathReduced fetal movementsStillbirths

Identifiers

PMID39885438
PMCPMC11780805

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.