Study links COVID-19 to preterm birth and hypertensive complications in pregnant women

According to a recent study by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), the novel coronavirus may infect a greater percentage of expectant mothers, who can have moderate-to-severe infections, highlighting the need for them to seek medical help right away.

“Pregnant women with COVID-19 need immediate medical attention from the healthcare system in India,” the study said.

Preterm birth and hypertensive problems in pregnancy were the most common consequences, according to a study published in the Indian Journal of Medical Research.

The study found that co-morbidities like anaemia, TB, and diabetes mellitus were linked to an elevated risk of maternal death in COVID-19-positive pregnant and postpartum women.

The study's data collected revealed, "There were 3213 live births, 77 miscarriages and 834 undelivered pregnancies. The proportion of foetal loss including stillbirths was six per cent. Five hundred and thirty-four women (13%) were symptomatic, of which 382 (72%) had mild, 112 (21%) had moderate, and 40 (7.5 %) had severe disease. The most common complication was preterm delivery (528, 16.3%) and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (328, 10.1%). A total of 158 (3.8%) pregnant and postpartum women required intensive care, of which 152 (96%) were due to COVID-19 related complications.”

In, the total case fatality rate (CFR) was 0.8%. The PregCovid registry gathered data on pregnant and postpartum women with a positive coronavirus infection from 19 medical institutions across Maharashtra on a close schedule.

The data of 4,203 pregnant women was evaluated from the first wave (March 2020 to January 2021). In comparison to Vidarbha (9/1155), Mumbai (11/1684, 0.7 percent), and Khandesh (1/160), Pune (9/853, 1.1 percent) and Marathwada (4/351) had higher CFR.

The discovery of tuberculosis as a health risk is significant because India has one of the highest rates of TB in both the general public and pregnant women. It was suggested that tuberculosis and COVID-19 treatment services be combined, and pregnant women with respiratory symptoms be examined for both.

According to a report, there were 34 deaths reported in Maharashtra among pregnant and post-partum women with COVID-19.  10 of the 34 pregnancy deaths happened after the childbirth process.

This is the first vast analysis of precisely recorded, multicenter data on the medical findings, pregnancy findings, and maternal mortality among women in Maharashtra with co-infection.

According to the study, foetal loss is a serious health issue for medical professionals, and whether COVID-19 is a major risk factor is a significant consideration to examine. Preterm birth rates in the current research group (16.3%) are similar to those reported in other countries.