Clinical characteristics, outcomes and persistent symptoms of pregnant women with COVID-19: A retrospective cohort study

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and to compare with pregnant women without COVID-19. In addition, in the subgroup of patients who were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis, the persistence of symptoms was assessed.

Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study. All pregnant women aged ≥18 years, admitted to the maternity ward from March 2020 to September 2023 were included in the study. All patients admitted were routinely screened for SARS-CoV-2. Clinical characteristics and outcomes were registered.

Results: During the study period, 880 patients met the inclusion and were included in the analysis: 385 were COVID-19 positive and 495 were COVID-19 negative. In a multivariate analysis of the outcomes associated with COVID-19 among pregnant women, hospitalization and the Apgar score at 5 min were independently associated with COVID-19. Cesarean delivery, preterm birth, Apgar scores at 1 and 5 min <7, and maternal death were more frequent in pregnant women with COVID-19 admitted to ICU than in those not admitted to ICU. Approximately 30% of patients had persistence of symptoms, for at least 6 months in almost 60%.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggest that COVID-19 was associated with increased morbidity and mortality among pregnant women. In addition, pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection were at significantly higher risk of adverse perinatal outcomes, especially preterm birth.