Studies show that pregnant women with COVID-19 are less likely to show the predominant symptoms of infection with SARS-CoV-2 than non-pregnant women of the same age.
However, this study BMJ, They found that the risk of admission to a hospital’s intensive care unit may be higher.
Premature birth We also found that pregnant women with COVID-19 had a higher rate than unaffected pregnant women.
Preexisting comorbidities have been noted as an important additional risk factor for severe COVID-19.
Review available evidence
Pregnant women are considered a high-risk group because of concerns about the effects of COVID-19 during and after pregnancy and on their offspring.
To help understand the clinical implications of maternity services for rapidly evolving evidence, expert teams from the World Health Organization and the University of Birmingham analyzed data from 77 studies.
Most of the literature was from the United States and China, but included studies from Italy, Spain, the United Kingdom, France, and eight other countries.
These studies report rates, clinical features, risk factors, and outcomes in 11,432 pregnant and recently pregnant women hospitalized and diagnosed with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 Did
Overall, 10% of pregnant and recently pregnant women visiting or admitted to the hospital were diagnosed with COVID-19.
Pregnant and recently pregnant cohorts were less likely to exhibit symptoms of fever and myalgia compared to non-pregnant women.
It is 62% more likely to require intensive care and 88% more likely to require invasive ventilation.
Increasing maternal age was a factor that increased risk as well as comorbidities with higher BMI, High blood pressure,Diabetes.
Pregnant women with preexisting maternal comorbidity were more than four times more likely to receive intensive care than women without preexisting comorbidity.
The odds of having an early birth were higher in COVID-19 pregnant women and recently pregnant women than in disease-free women.
One-quarter of all babies born to COVID-19 mothers were admitted to the neonatal ward and were at increased risk of hospitalization compared to babies born to ill mothers.
However, stillbirth and neonatal mortality was low.
Research demonstrates “need to raise awareness”
Researchers point out some research limitations, including differences in study size, design, symptoms, tests, and definition of results. But they said they have taken a robust approach to ensuring that the data is authentic.
Shakira Tangalatinum, a maternal and perinatal health professor at the University of Birmingham who led the research, said: Early identification of pregnant women and those with risk factors.
“I will update the findings regularly as new evidence emerges.”
Andrew Shennan, an obstetrical professor at King’s College in London, commended the researchers for a large, well-implemented summary of the available evidence.
He said Science Media Center“COVID-19 has been confirmed to be non-serious for the majority of pregnant women. Only one in 1,000 women is affected. The data show that at high risk women May be overestimated due to the tendency to report and death from cause, other than COVID-19.
“Early labor does not increase, but early childbirth may be needed to manage a sick woman. Pregnant women are slightly more likely to receive intensive care.
“Similarly to non-pregnant people, age, weight, high blood pressure, and diabetes are important risk factors. Pregnant women are routinely tested rather than showing symptoms; I’m less likely to feel muscle pain.”
Dr. Edward Morris, a Royal Obstetrician and Gynecologist, said: “This study emphasizes that there may be an increased need for intensive care for pregnant women with coronaviruses.
“This also applies if a pregnant woman contracts. influenza.. This year, it is especially important that pregnant women accept the provision of a safe, free flu vaccine during all trimesters of pregnancy to protect them from severe exacerbations of the flu.
“The findings of this paper underscore the need for further research into the effects of the virus on pregnant women and their babies so that health services better respond to their needs during this period.”
Clinical Symptoms, Risk Factors, Maternal and Perinatal Outcomes of Coronavirus Disease 2019 during Pregnancy: A Live Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, BMJ 2020; 370: m3320. paper.
