Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy: a retrospective cohort study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To evaluate of COVID-19 disease in pregnant women and its association with hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Design: Retrospective Cohort Study

Setting: Multicenter study from a large metropolitan hospital system

Methods: Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancy and delivered were compared to the three subsequent deliveries of patients who tested negative (controls). We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.

Results: Compared with pregnancies negative for SARs-CoV-2 infection, maternal SARs-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.67 − 8.10).

Tweetable Abstract

Patients who test positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancy are at increased risk of developing a hypertensive disorder of pregnancy. Earlier SARs-CoV-2 infection results in an increased risk of developing a hypertensive disorder.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• sars-cov-2
• pregnancy
• preeclampsia
• hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

Acknowledgments

This study is dedicated to the late Dr. David M. Zalenski who was integral to the COVID-19 response as the OB/GYN department chair at Ascension St. John Hospital. In addition to practicing obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Zalenski was an educator and leader for the St. John OB/Gyn residency program. His kind presence is sorely missed.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Availability of data and material

Upon Request

Author Contributions

MB conceived of the idea, designed the protocol and wrote the manuscript. MB, FA, MT, KG, and ML curated the data. SS verified the protocol was methodologically sound and analyzed the data. MA was integral in the design and execution of the project. All authors discussed the final results and contributed to the final manuscript.

Ethics Approval

This study was approved by the Ascension St. John and Ascension Providence Institutional Review Boards (IRB) on 06/12/2020 (Reference #1,617,953).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed here

Table

Adapted from: Espinoza, Vidaeff, Pettker, and Simhan. ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 202: Clinical Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologist. (39)

Table

Adapted from: Espinoza, Vidaeff, Pettker, and Simhan. ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 202: Clinical Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologist. (39)

Table

Adapted from: Espinoza, Vidaeff, Pettker, and Simhan. ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 202: Clinical Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologist. (39)

Table

Adapted from: Espinoza, Vidaeff, Pettker, and Simhan. ACOG Practice Bulletin, Number 202: Clinical Management Guidelines for Obstetrician-Gynecologist. (39)