The coronavirus disease – 2019 (COVID-19) is known to cause several complications in patients. However, its impact on pregnant women and the fetus is not well-known. The objective of this study is to examine the associations between COVID-19 and maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
This cohort study included a total of 706 pregnant women with COVID-19 diagnosis and 1,424 women without COVID-19 diagnosis. The diagnosis was laboratory-confirmed with radiological pulmonary findings or two or more predefined COVID-19 symptoms. The primary outcomes of the study were maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
The findings suggested that overweight early in pregnancy occurred in 323 women (48.6%) with COVID-19 and 554 women (40.2%) without COVID-19. Women with the disease were at a higher risk of severe infections (RR 3.38), intensive care unit admission (5.04), maternal mortality (22.3), preeclampsia/eclampsia (1.76), preterm birth (1.59). severe neonatal morbidity index (2.66), and severe perinatal morbidity and mortality index (2.14). It was also found that fever and shortness of breath during the disease were associated with severe maternal and neonatal complications, while asymptomatic women remained at a higher risk of only maternal morbidity.
The research concluded that pregnant women with COVID-19 were at a higher risk of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
Ref: https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/fullarticle/2779182?resultClick=1
