These findings add to the growing body of data that having COVID-19 during pregnancy doubles the risk of serious problems like preterm birth, venous thromboembolism (blood clot), and severe maternal morbidity, which includes disorders like ARDS and sepsis.

A review of records for 43,886 pregnant people during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic indicated that the 1,332 who had a coronavirus infection during pregnancy had more than double the chance of unfavorable outcomes compared to those who did not have the virus.

According to lead author Assiamira Ferrara, “these findings add to the growing evidence that having COVID-19 during pregnancy raises risks of serious complications.”

“Coupled with the evidence that the COVID-19 vaccines are safe during pregnancy, these findings should aid patients in understanding the risks of perinatal complications and the need for vaccination,” added Dr. Ferrara. “This study supports the recommendation for vaccination of pregnant individuals and those planning conception.”

She said one of the study’s strengths was that it followed a large group of patients from conception to delivery to see if there were any links between perinatal problems and infection with the COVID-19 virus, which was discovered by a PCR test.

Researchers looked at Kaiser Permanente pregnant patients in Northern California who gave birth between March 2020 and March 2021. With 33.8 percent white, 28.4 percent Hispanic or Latino, 25.9 percent Asian or Pacific Islander, 6.5 percent black, 0.3 percent American Indian or Alaska Native, and 5 percent multiracial or unknown race and ethnicity, the patient group was racially and ethnically varied.

Individuals who tested positive for the coronavirus were more likely to be younger, Hispanic, have had many children, be obese, or reside in a low-income neighborhood.

Those who tested positive for coronavirus had a twofold increased risk of preterm birth, according to the study. These individuals were more likely to have a medically-induced preterm delivery than a spontaneous preterm birth; risk was higher for both forms of preterm birth and at the early, middle, and late stages of pregnancy. When the woman has a disease like preeclampsia, the birth may be induced early.

Coronavirus infection increased the risk of thromboembolism, or blood clots, by three times and increased the risk of severe maternal morbidity by 2.5 times.

“Our study was large, diverse, and supports the need for vaccination by pregnant individuals and those who plan to get pregnant,” added co-author Mara Greenberg. “The most important thing people can do to protect themselves and their baby is to get vaccinated.”

Source: JAMA Internal Medicine

Image Credit: Getty

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