Abstract :
Background: COVID 19 is a new pandemic affecting human life globally. Complexity in management is because little is known about effect of COVID 19, particularly its effect on pregnant women and infants. Pregnant women with comorbidities are more vulnerable to severe effects of COVID 19 infection. The aim of this retrospective study is to review the perinatal outcome in pregnant women affected by COVID 19.
Materials and Methods: This was a single centre retrospective comparative study performed at COVID referral centre. The study was conducted in 4 months duration in patients diagnosed COVID 19 positive and were compared with all pregnant women who were tested COVID negative and delivered during the same time frame. Data collected from individual case records included age, parity and complications in the antenatal, intrapartum and postpartum periods and also neonatal outcome.
Results: Out of 28 patients there were 6 (21.4%) patients who presented with fever, 4 (14.3%) patients presented with cough, 2 (7.14%) patients presented with shortness of breath, 14 (50%) were asymptomatic who were incidentally diagnosed on COVID testing based on routine hospital testing policy. Mean age was 25.35 ± 3.31 years in COVID positive patients and was comparable to COVID negative patients who had mean age of 26.16 ± 3.32 years. Parity was comparable in two groups. 8 (28.5%) out of 28 had preterm delivery as compared to 13 (11.6%) out of 112 in COVID negative group, p value was significant (p=0.0245. In COVID positive group 18 (64.3%) out of 28 had c-section, whereas 40 (35.7%) out of 112 underwent cesarean section (p=0.006).
Conclusion: There has been increase in preterm delivery in COVID positive pregnant women. This study emphasize on the need for regular antenatal and medical follow up and good perinatal care for COVID positive mothers.
Keyword :
COVID positive, Pregnant, Preterm delivery, Perinatal outcome.