Publication:

Maternal and neonatal complications between post-COVID pregnant patient and normal patient: a tertiary care hospital-based comparative study

Background As the COVID-19 pandemic evolved the complications associated with acute infection have been well described. However, in the post-pandemic era, we must dwell on the obstetric sequelae of these infections. This study investigated the maternal and neonatal outcomes in post-COVID patients compared to normal pregnant women.

Methods A prospective cohort study was designed where women who had a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy were compared with concomitant pregnant women without a COVID-19 diagnosis. Women were followed up from enrolment in the outpatient department until one-week post-partum, and data were collected.

Results In this study, 201 women were included and divided into two groups. The women who had a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy had a significantly higher incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus (OR 3.6, 95% CI 1.0-12.6). There was also a significantly higher incidence of adverse perinatal complications (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-2.0) particularly an increased rate of preterm delivery (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3-8.7) compared to the women who did not have a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy. Moreover, no significant differences existed in the measured outcomes when comparing women infected in the second trimester, to those infected in the third trimester.

Conclusions The development of complications such as preterm delivery and gestational diabetes mellitus among women after a COVID-19 infection during pregnancy underscores the necessity for close monitoring of such patients and the promotion of strategies to prevent infection.