https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7604-6978
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Abstract
Background
The available literature indicates a link between SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and a heightened probability of experiencing negative outcomes for both the pregnant patient and the developing fetus. We compared clinical outcomes of pregnant patients with or without COVID-19 hospitalized during delivery.
Methods
Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare outcomes and was adjusted for patient-related, hospital-related, and illness severity indicators.
Results
We identified a total of 3,447,771 pregnant patients admitted between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020; 1.3% (n = 46,050) had COVID-19. COVID-19–positive patients had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (0.15% vs 0.05%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5–14.25, P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (0.9% vs 0.05%, aOR 14.2, 95% CI 10.7–18.76, P < 0.001), vasopressor use (0.26% vs 0.14%, aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.07–2.02, P = 0.01), and perinatal maternal complications like preeclampsia (9.66% vs 7.04%, aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.2–1.39, P < 0.001) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome (0.53% vs 0.26%, aOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.43–2.61, P < 0.001) than COVID-19–negative patients.
Discussion
Clinicians should be aware of the heightened risk of complications in pregnant patients with COVID-19 and consider strategies to mitigate them.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors thank Sarah Carey, MS, Jade Chang, and Jacalyn Newman, PhD, of Allegheny Health Network’s Health System Publication Support Office (HSPSO) for their assistance in editing and formatting the manuscript. The HSPSO is funded by Highmark Health (Pittsburgh, PA, USA), and all work was done in accordance with Good Publication Practice guidelines (http://www.ismpp.org/gpp3).