A retrospective study on maternal and fetal outcomes of pregnancy with COVID-19

Abstract

Background: On March 11, 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared COVID-19 a global health emergency. At that time, it was unclear how COVID-19 affected pregnant individuals and whether its symptoms presented differently than nonpregnant women. Objective: To investigate the effects of COVID-19 on both the pregnant mother and the developing fetus. Materials and Methods: This retrospective analysis concentrated on 58 pregnant individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 1, 2020, and February 28, 2022, at a Tertiary Care Center in Navi Mumbai, India. This study aimed to investigate the effects of COVID-19 infection on maternal and fetal well-being during pregnancy. Results: In the study’s findings, it was observed that among the participants, 48.3% were primigravida (experiencing their first pregnancy), whereas 51.7% were multigravida (having been pregnant previously). Of the participants, 44% underwent lower segment cesarean section, whereas the remaining 56% had vaginal deliveries. The primary indications for performing cesarean sections were oligohydramnios and fetal distress. Approximately 41.3% of the newborns required admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The neonatal mortality rate was recorded at 5.1%, and none of the newborns tested positive for COVID-19. Conclusion: In summary, while most patients were admitted without symptoms (89.7%) or mild symptoms, it became evident that COVID-19 was a virulent virus capable of causing rapid and unexpected deterioration in the mothers’ health, ultimately impacting fetal well-being. Notably, this study only observed fatalities during the second wave of the pandemic.