Maternal and neonatal outcomes among women with and without severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus-2 infection: A retrospective analytical study.

Abstract

BackgroundCorona virus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by the novel corona virus known as severe acute respiratory syndrome corona virus 2 (SARS Cov-2). Physiological changes occurring during pregnancy can have a positive or negative effect on the disease progression. The objective of the study was to evaluate the maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19 compared to pregnant women without COVID-19 and to determine its influence on the healthcare system.Material and methodsThis was a retrospective analytical study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Odisha, India, over 3 months, from 1 September 2020 until 30 November 2020. Results were compared in both groups.ResultsThree hundred and three (303) women delivered, out of whom 92 were COVID-19 positive. Incidence of COVID-19 positivity was 30.3% with 93.47% asymptomatic patients. The majority of the patients were 26–35years of age. Average gestational age at delivery for both groups was 37–40 weeks. COVID-19 positivity was seen more in primigravidas than in multigravidas. Comorbidities such as GDM/type 2 DM, PIH, PROM, APH and jaundice were similar in both groups and statistically non-significant, whereas association of anaemia and hypothyroidism were statistically significant (p<0.05) in the positive group. A single maternal death was reported in the positive group. There was an increase in Caesarean section (p=0.002) with higher incidence of preterm births and lowbirth weights in the positive group. Only 3 babies tested positive for COVID-19, so vertical transmission probability was low. Overall, all babies were healthy and the majority of women were discharged without any complications.ConclusionThere was no significant effect of the infection on maternal and fetal outcomes, but further studies and long-term follow-up is needed to look for any delayed effects on the babies and mothers.