Association between hypertensive disorders and COVID-19 during pregnancy

Abstract

Background: Due to the physiological and anatomical changes that occur during pregnancy and the rapid global spread of COVID-19, pregnant women and their foetuses are a high-risk population during infectious disease epidemics. The aim is to investigate the idea that COVID-19 infection raises the risk of perinatal hypertensive disorders. Methods: This combined retrospective and prospective cohort study was conducted at maternity Hospital, Minia University and isolation Hospitals which have a universal COVID-19 testing policy and admission to labor and delivery. Result: we enrolled 373 pregnant women after consideration of inclusion and exclusion criteria; 115 cases were enrolled in group of positive COVID-19 infection and 230 cases included in group of non COVID-19 infection. 36 cases at group of positive COVID-19 had preeclampsia with incidence 31.3%, while 42 cases of non COVID-19 group had PE with incidence 18.3%. This study revealed that high incidence of ICU admission; incidence at group of PE with COVID-19 was 72.2% while at PE without COVID-19 was 45.2%, so median duration of ICU admission in PE WITH COVID-19 infection was 8 with IQR (5.8-9) and the median at group of PE without COVID-19 was 5 with IQR (3-7). This study showed that adverse perinatal outcome; maternal and fetal complications with high incidence of maternal mortality 41.6% at group of PE with COVID-19 infection, and 42.8% at group of PE without COVID-19 infection. Conclusion: Development of preeclampsia in COVID-19 patients worsen maternal and fetal outcome. It increases the need for oxygen therapy, increasing need for antihypertensive treatment and invasive ventilation support.