Publication:

Investigation of clinical parameters associated with COVID-19 in pregnant women

Background Pregnancy is an immune-compromised condition; encompass physiological changes that make the women more vulnerable to infections such as COVID-19. The major concern is about the intrauterine transmission resulting in fetal and neonatal outcomes; therefore, this group of population requires more attention pertaining prevention, management and treatment. Thus, the main aim of the study is to analyze clinical characteristics among pregnant women.

Methods The study was conducted on 17092 samples of pregnant adults whose nasopharyngeal and/or oropharyngeal swab samples were received from various districts of Punjab (Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran and Pathankot) from the period of March 2020 to December 2020. Confirmation of SAS-CoV-2 was done by RT-PCR.

Results Out of total samples (17092), 374 (2.19%) females exhibited positive results for SARS-CoV-2, and mean age of the pregnant females was 26.37 years. Analysis was performed on 210 (Positive) samples as cases and 210 age matched control females (SARS-CoV-2 negative). Analysis performed demonstrated that SpO2 <96% and co-morbidities such as diabetes and hypertension showed significant association and are common factors in COVID-19. None of the case showed any neonatal and maternal demise.

Conclusions In the present study, saturation level of oxygen (<96%), diabetes and hypertension was found to be significant. All the pregnant women have similar symptoms as that of non pregnant adults.