The New Indian Journal of OBGYN. 11(2):340-344

Risk factors, complications, maternal and neonatal outcomes among post-Covid mothers in a tertiary care hospital, Puducherry, India - A case control study

V Uthpala, Sendhil Coumary A, Prabhavathi C

ABSTRACT

Objectives: There is very less literature about the impact of COVID-19 infection in the past on current reproductive and maternal health. Therefore, this study aims to compare the incidence of risk factors, complications and maternal and fetal outcomes in women with post covid (cases) and women without covid (controls). Methods: This was a hospital based case control study conducted during 2021-2022 in the department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, India. Women delivered with a history of COVID-19 infection before or during pregnancy were enrolled for the study as cases. Controls were taken before the covid period. The data were collected from the labour ward delivery register, operating room records, patient case notes obtained from the main records department and discharge notes from hospital HMIS. Results: A total of 50 cases and 100 controls were included in the analysis. Around 64% of the post Covid mothers had obstetric risk factors compared to 41% of controls (OR=2.54, p=0.008). Similarly, significantly high pregnancy complication was present in post-Covid mothers as compared to normal mothers (58% vs 3%, OR=43.07, p<0.001). The most common risk factors among post-Covid mothers were hypothyroidism (30%) and anaemia (20%). The most common complications were Oligohydramnios (16%), GDM (14%) and PPH (10%). About 8% of the post-Covid mothers had a blood transfusion and 24% of babies received NICU care. Conclusion: Obstetric risk factors and complications were significantly high among post-Covid women. Interventions to reduce the risk factors and complications among these women are much needed.