Short-term outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnant women unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 in the first, second, and third trimesters: a retrospective study

ABSTRACT BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be asymptomatic or symptomatic in pregnant women. Compared to non-pregnant reproductive-aged women, symptomatic individuals appear to have a higher risk of acquiring severe illness sequelae. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of pregnant COVID-19 patients unvaccinated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 according to the trimester of pregnancy. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary-level hospital in Turkey. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of 445 pregnant COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and 149 other pregnant women as controls in a tertiary center from April 2020 to December 2021. All participants were unvaccinated. RESULTS: Overall, the study groups were comparable in terms of baseline clinical pregnancy characteristics. There was no clear difference among the study participants with COVID-19 in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. However, a considerably high number of clinical and laboratory findings revealed differences that were consistent with the inflammatory nature of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The study results reveal the importance of careful follow-up of hospitalized cases as a necessary step by means of regular clinical and laboratory examinations in pregnant COVID-19 patients. With further studies, after implementing vaccination programs for COVID-19 in pregnant women, these data may help determine the impact of vaccination on the outcomes of pregnant COVID-19 patients.

Short-term outcomes of COVID-19 in pregnant women unvaccinated for SARS-CoV-2 in the first, second, and third trimesters: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) may be asymptomatic or symptomatic in pregnant women. Compared to non-pregnant reproductive-aged women, symptomatic individuals appear to have a higher risk of acquiring severe illness sequelae. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of pregnant COVID-19 patients unvaccinated for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 according to the trimester of pregnancy. DESIGN AND SETTING: This was a retrospective observational study conducted in a tertiary-level hospital in Turkey. METHODS: This retrospective study reviewed the clinical and laboratory characteristics and outcomes of 445 pregnant COVID-19 patients hospitalized during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy and 149 other pregnant women as controls in a tertiary center from April 2020 to December 2021. All participants were unvaccinated. RESULTS: Overall, the study groups were comparable in terms of baseline clinical pregnancy characteristics. There was no clear difference among the study participants with COVID-19 in the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy. However, a considerably high number of clinical and laboratory findings revealed differences that were consistent with the inflammatory nature of the disease. CONCLUSIONS: The study results reveal the importance of careful follow-up of hospitalized cases as a necessary step by means of regular clinical and laboratory examinations in pregnant COVID-19 patients. With further studies, after implementing vaccination programs for COVID-19 in pregnant women, these data may help determine the impact of vaccination on the outcomes of pregnant COVID-19 patients.

Childbirth and Postpartum Period Fear and the Related Factors in Pregnancy.

OBJECTIVE: This study was carried out to determine the factors affecting pregnant women's anxiety levels during delivery and the postpartum period. STUDY DESIGN: A descriptive and analytical study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Polyclinic; and Antenetal Education Class, Sakarya University Education and Research Hospital, Sakarya,Turkey, from October 2018 to January 2019. METHODOLOGY: Five hundred pregnant women constituted the sample. The data were obtained by using the questionnaire form consisting 25 questions containing the introductory information of pregnant women, prepared by the researchers, and the fear of childbirth and postpartum period scale (FCPPS). Pregnant women's demographic and obstetrical factors and FCPS score were analysed. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference was determined between pregnant women's employment status (p = 0.003), smoking status (p <0.001), trimester of pregnancy (p <0.001), number of living children (p = 0.015), chronic disease (p <0.001), status of receiving education during pregnancy (p <0.001), status of receiving support during/after delivery (p <0.001), and the FCPPS averages. CONCLUSION: It was determined that pregnant women's anxieties about delivery and babycare increased, especially in the last trimester.