According to researchers’ new study, pregnancy is a risk factor for death, pneumonia, and intensive care unit (ICU) admission for women at reproductive age and who are infected with Covid-19.
A study published in Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology (UOG) – the official journal of the International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology (ISUOG) indicates that pregnant women with SARS‐CoV‐2 infection are at higher risk of death, ICU admission, and severe pneumonia.
The data were obtained from the COVID‐19 National Data Registry of Mexico for the study, which comprised people of any age with clinically suspected SARS‐CoV‐2 infection and was admitted to 475 monitoring hospitals.
However, the researchers focused on the data of pregnant and non-pregnant women of reproductive age between 15–49 years. These women were confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
About 5183 samples of pregnant and 175,908 non‐pregnant COVID‐19 patients were initially included in the study.
It was revealed that pregnant women had higher odds of death, pneumonia, and ICU admission than non‐pregnant women after the background demographic and underlying risk factors.
However, both had similar odds of intubation, which is done so that a patient can be placed on a ventilator to assist with breathing.
Why are pregnant women at higher risk for severe Covid-19 and death compared to non-pregnant women in the same age range?
According to Dr. Nupur Gupta, Founder of Well Woman Clinic & Director Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology at Fortis Memorial Research Institute Gurugram said, “Flu with pregnancy are at a higher risk for pneumonia and other lung complications or death. However, Covid-19 does not pose any additional risk for death in pregnant women.”
What is the overall risk of severe Covid and deaths to pregnant women in India?
“As we know, the immunity in pregnancy decreases, so because of the low immunity any mild infection in the lungs can lead to a higher risk of developing pneumonia. More than 40 to 50 percent of pregnant women develop a severe covid-19 infection when compared to normal women or who are non-covid,” said Dr. Gupta.
Dr. Gupta added, “According to the available published data in India says, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ards) or pneumonia or any lung infection are found more in pregnant women as compared to other with Covid.”
Is it true that pregnant women with COVID-19 are at increased risk for other adverse outcomes?
Dr. Gupta said, “Any lung infection or pneumonia in pregnant women has higher risk or life threat, that is the reason why we put flu vaccine in pregnant women and it is similar with the women who are pregnant and with Covid19. They don’t have any different symptoms for covid than others.”
What specific COVID-19 emergency warning signs a pregnant woman should never ignore?
The most common and early warning sign a pregnant woman should never ignore is fever and breathlessness, but the breathlessness in pregnancy can be the normal symptoms because of hyper dynamic circulation and fast heart beatings so you may get confused with this, explains Dr. Gupta.
Dr. Gupta further added, “But any symptoms like fever, sore throat or breathlessness must not be ignored by the pregnant women during these times and they must visit a doctor and go for a test.”
