Maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19 infection in pregnancy

Background: Limited data is available on the full spectrum of maternal COVID-19 infection in terms of pregnancy outcomes. The present study aimed to compare the maternal and neonatal outcomes of COVID-19 in infected and non-infected pregnant women.

Methods: A dual-site retrospective cohort study was conducted in two tertiary hospitals in Isfahan, Iran. The sample included 104 infected and 210 non-infected hospitalized pregnant women. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: There were significant differences between COVID-19-infected and non-infected pregnant women regarding preterm labor (PTL) (odds ratio [OR]: 11.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–48.54, P=0.035); hospitalization days (OR: 7.21, 95% CI: 4.05–12.85, P≤0.001); cesarean section (CS) (OR: 4.76, 95% CI: 1.78–12.45, P=0.002); neonatal admission to neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.12–1.67, P=0.004); and neonatal respiratory distress (OR: 2.37, 95% CI: 1.02–5.47, P=0.044). No significant association was found between COVID-19 infection and abortion (OR: 0.06, 95% CI: 0.01–1.45, P=0.084); stillbirth (OR: 1.84, 95% CI: 0.05–39.68, P=0.743); Apgar score (1 minute) (OR: 0.91, 95% CI: 0.74–1.13, P=0.382); Apgar score (5 minutes) (OR: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.81–1.18, P=0.765); and low birth weight (LBW) (OR: 4.76, 95% CI: 1.78–12.45, P=0.002).

Conclusion: PTL, CS, neonatal admission in NICU, neonatal respiratory distress, and hospitalization days were significantly higher in pregnant women with COVID-19 compared to those without infection.