Publication:

Maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality in COVID-19 positive obstetrics patients in tertiary care centre

Background COVID-19 disease had been declared as a public health crisis by WHO by the end of 2019. The effect of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnancy including symptoms, disease severity, risk of vertical transmission and perinatal and neonatal outcome have been the subject of research. Preliminary studies showed a fluctuating course of the disease ranging from asymptomatic or mild symptoms to even maternal death. However, recent evidences suggest that effect of COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may not lead to adverse maternal and neonatal outcome.

Methods In this cross sectional prospective observational study, we analysed 60 pregnant women infected with SARS- CoV-2 and their neonatal outcome, who tested positive for COVID-19 at district hospital, and were referred to Muzaffarnagar Medical College, were enrolled in this study.

Results The majority 96.7% (58) of these women were asymptomatic with cough being the most common symptom which was present in 3.3% (2) of the women. 24(75%) women developed pneumonitis radiologically, but they were asymptomatic, so intensive care was not required. Along with 76.08% (35) perinatal/neonatal outcomes were observed normal.

Conclusions In this study we observed that most of the women with COVID-19 were asymptomatic or with mild symptoms. Even though they were asymptomatic, most of the patients showed pneumonitis changes radiologically but still they didn’t require any intensive care, had good recovery postpartum and were discharged under satisfactory condition. The neonatal outcome was highly favourable.