MBRRACE-UK: Maternal, newborn and infant programme: Learning from SARS-CoV-2-related and associated maternal deaths in the UK (20 August 2020)

Summary

The emergence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus led to immediate concerns about the impact of infection on pregnant women. In response to the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic the MBRRACE-UK team instituted rapid notification of maternal deaths associated with SARS-CoV-2, following which notifications of SARS-CoV-2-associated maternal deaths were received in early April 2020.

Expedited reviews were conducted into all deaths of women with confirmed or suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection during or up to one year after pregnancy, and any deaths of women who died from mental health-related causes or domestic violence, which might have been influenced by public health measures introduced to control the epidemic such as lockdown.

This rapid report aims to identify lessons learned to guide future care and pathway changes in the context of infection transmission and the need for public health and NHS service measures to prevent infection.