Which Laboratory and Clinical Feature are different in Pregnant and Non-pregnant Women with COVID-19? A Cross-sectional Study in the West of Iran

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to determine the differences in laboratory and clinical characteristics of pregnant and non-pregnant women with COVID-19 in Hamadan, the west of Iran. Material & Methods: This cross-sectional study compared 135 pregnant with 135 non-pregnant women without underlying diseases and matched by age with COVID-19 from March 2020 to June 2021 in Hamadan, a western city in Iran. Their demographic characteristics, clinical symptoms, vital signs, and laboratory findings were evaluated using a preset checklist and contrasted between the two groups. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for the outcomes of illness were presented. A considerable amount of analysis was performed on all data using the SPSS version 26 software. Results: In general, there was a significant association between most clinical symptoms and status of pregnancy. Although the Peripheral oxygen saturation with a pulse oximeter (SPO2) mean was significantly lower among non-pregnant compared to the pregnant women (89.19±4.52 versus 94.91±3.12; p < 0.001), the mean of heart rate was significantly lower among pregnant women compared to non-pregnant women (90.59±11.80 versus 96.50±15.02; p = 0.001). The percentage of low hemoglobin (Hb), abnormal Blood Urea Nitrogen, high Creatinine (CR), high Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate and high Lactate Dehydrogenase was significantly higher in non-pregnant women compared to the pregnant women. Women with pregnancy compared to non-pregnant women and women with low Hb compared to normal Hb had a considerably increased chance of intensive care unit /death. Each unit increase in SPO2 and pulse rate resulted in a considerable reduction in this risk. In addition, women with high CR, shortness of breath and per unit rise in temperature had a considerably higher chance of staying in the hospital for a longer period of time. Conclusion: The clinical and para-clinical manifestations of pregnant women with COVID-19 are different from non-pregnant women. Although there was a significant difference between the two groups due to mortality, the percentage of admission to the intensive care unit in pregnant women with COVID-19 is higher than in non-pregnant women. To avoid these adverse outcomes, pregnant women should take precautions to avoid COVID-19 infection.