Pregnancy Outcomes in Women With COVID-19: A Case-Control Study in Iran

Little is known about the effects of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes. The present study was performed to investigate maternal and perinatal outcomes in pregnant women affected by COVID-19.

This case-control study was conducted on 264 pregnant women, including 132 infected (case group) and 132 uninfected pregnant women with COVID-19 (control group), using a retrospective record review design and matched sampling in three hospitals in Hamadan Province, Iran.Pregnant women with a positive COVID-19 test were identified through the registration system for COVID-19 in the health centers. The two groups were matched in terms of gestational age and maternal age. Data were collected from February 2020 to October 2021 using a questionnaire consisting of demographic and obstetric data, maternal and perinatal outcomes, and information about COVID-19 detection and treatment. Data were analyzed by SPSS software (version 22).

A high percentage of the case group lived in urban areas (p=0.026). In the case group, newborn hospitalization and death were significantly higher (p=0.032). No differences were observed between the two groups in other maternal or perinatal outcomes. Although there was one maternal death, two HELLP syndromes, and two cases of pregnancy cholestasis in the case group, however, they were not statistically significant.

Although most maternal and perinatal outcomes were not statistically significant in COVID-19 pregnancies, some important outcomes, especially maternal death, occurred only in the case group. More evidence is needed to confirm whether COVID-19 can negatively affect pregnancy outcomes.