COVID-19 associated with serious health complications during pregnancy

February 7, 2022 9:00 am

Media Alert: Dr. Mets Available via ZOOM Monday, February 7, 2022 11:30 am MT media question

Pregnant people infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, are more likely to develop serious complications or die during pregnancy than those who are not infected with the virus. About 40% higher, a University of Utah Health Obstetrician.

The researchers concluded that the severity of COVID-19 symptoms is an important indicator of the high risk of pregnancy complications. This was especially apparent among the most severely ill people. They were three times more likely to develop pregnancy complications than those who were negative or less affected by the disease.

“We already knew that pregnant people were at increased risk of complications of COVID-19 itself,” he says. Torri D. Metz, MD, MS, A perinatal specialist and associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at U of U Health, who led multicenter efforts. “Our study shows that SARS-CoV-2 infection risks serious consequences associated with the progression of common pregnancy complications, such as the development of hypertension, postpartum bleeding, and the development of non-SARS infections. It’s one of the first things I’ve discovered that it can increase. That’s why pregnant people need to be sure they’re vaccinated. “

This study was published in the February 7, 2022 issue. JAMA.

The researchers analyzed electronic medical records of 14,104 pregnant women treated at 17 medical centers nationwide. Eunice Kennedy Shriver NICHD Maternal-Fetal Medicine Unit (MFMU) Network From March 1, 2020 to December 31, 2020.

Approximately 2,350 of these individuals tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy or within 6 weeks of delivery. Over 13% of those who tested positive developed pregnancy complications during the study, compared to 9% of those who tested negative. All five maternal deaths occurred in the SARS-CoV-2 positive group. In addition, researchers have discovered that:

Complications were more common with moderate to severe COVID-19.

Approximately three times (26.1% vs. 26.1%) pregnant people who have moderate or severe symptoms and require treatment with oxygen supplementation or ICU care compared to those with mild (flu-like) or asymptomatic symptoms. 9.2%) Severe pregnancy complications that were likely.

These problems include eclampsia, severe hypertension, Renal failure and others Damage to end organs caused by hypertension and sepsis Infectious diseases other than SARS-CoV-2, and Endometritis need Long-term administration of intravenous antibiotics.

Preterm birth was more likely in infected individuals.

SARS-CoV-2 infection was significantly associated with preterm birth and NICU admission. However, the mother’s SARS-CoV-2 was not associated with other adverse consequences of the newborn. In fact, only 1.2% of newborns were virus-positive before discharge.

People with certain characteristics are more likely to have complications.

Individuals who were positive and subsequently developed pregnancy complications had a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher and were more likely to be identified as Hispanic or black. These findings are consistent with other demographic findings among non-pregnant individuals infected with the virus, Mets says.

Pregnant women with moderate or severe COVID-19 symptoms had a significantly higher risk of caesarean section than pregnant women without SARS-CoV-2 (45.4% vs. 32.4%). However, the birth rate of cesarean section was similar among those with mild symptoms or asymptomatic compared to those without SARS-CoV-2.

“Some pregnant people infected with COVID-19 are ill and unable to attempt vaginal delivery,” says Mets. “In certain situations, such as the development of pre-eclampsia, the foetation is much less likely to tolerate it.”

Within the limits of this study, 80% of SARS-CoV-2 infections were detected late in pregnancy, hampering efforts to assess the effects of the virus on early pregnancy complications.

This study was also conducted before the widespread availability of mRNA vaccines. However, according to Mets, the new findings support the scientific basis behind efforts to vaccinate pregnant individuals or individuals considering having children.

“The pregnancy complications we observed were mainly seen in people with moderate to severe symptoms of COVID-19,” says Mets. “Other studies have shown that vaccination prevents the most serious symptoms of the disease, so this is another piece of the puzzle that should encourage pregnant people to vaccinate.”

Check out this Q & A video with Torri Metz, Principal Investigator of the Study.

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The study “Relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and serious maternal morbidity and mortality from obstetric complications” was published in the February 7, 2022 issue. JAMA. It was supported by Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute for Advanced Translational Sciences (NICHD) and National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences.

In addition to the U of U Health, the institutions participating in this study include George Washington University, Alabama University, Northwestern University, Brown University, Texas University School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Casewestern University, North Carolina University, and Ohio. included. University, University of Columbia, University of Pennsylvania, University of Texas Health Sciences Center-Houston, and University of Texas-Austin.

Conflict of Interest: Torri D. Metz received personal fees and grants from Pfizer and grants from Gestvision. Brenna L. Hughes received a personal fee from Merck. Hyagriv N. Simihan, LLC co-founder of Naima Health, receives personal fees from UptoDate outside of the current survey. Alan TN Tita received a grant from Pfizer. Maged Costantine reported its relationship with Baxter International, Momenta Pharmaxeuticals, Progenity, AMAG Pharmaceuticals, and ObsEva. Other authors have not reported conflicts of interest.

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COVID-19 (new coronavirus infection)
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