Did Pregnancy Complications Increase During The COVID-19 Pandemic Period?

Abstract

Aim: This study aimed to investigate the potential increase in the pregnancy complications during the pandemic period. 
 Materials and Methods: Data of the pregnant women who were admitted between April/May2019 and April/May2020 for stillbirth, preterm labor, term prelabor rupture of membranes (PROM), preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), placental abruption, miscarriage and abortion imminens were collected from the hospital database and retrospectively analyzed. 
 Results: During the COVID-19 pandemic period between April/May2020, 1604 deliveries occurred in our hospital. Totally 1401 deliveries had occurred in the same monthly interval of 2019. In the early pregnancy unit, 566 patients were admitted to be monitored in 2019 whereas that number is 466 in 2020. In the pandemic period, a statistically significant difference was found between 2019 and 2020 regarding the rates of admission after 22nd gestational week and admission to the Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit. Bonferroni tests were performed to determine which group of the patients generated this difference and it was determined that the rates of term PROM and miscarriage increased statistically significantly in 2020 compared with 2019.
 Conclusion: We concluded that the effect of COVID-19 on symptomatic and asymptomatic pregnant women will be further clarified by switching to routine screening program for pregnant women in our country. COVID-19 antibody testing is important to confirm our results in the cases with term PROM and miscarriage who are asymptomatic with respect to COVID-19.