ABSTRACT
Pregnant women and their neonates belong to the group of individuals with elevated risk for COVID-19 infection. Data on the course of the disease and how it affects the pregnancy and neonatal wellbeing remain conflicting. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of SARS CoV-2 infection on the mode of delivery, neonatal condition and selected maternal and fetal laboratory parameters. This was a single-center retrospective case-control study. This dataset was generated using electronic medical records collected by medical personnel. Two groups of patients, hospitalized between April, 2020 and February, 2021, were included in the study: study group (304)-pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 and control group (N = 329)-healthy pregnant women or parturients. Mothers with a severe course of COVID-19 had higher activated partial thromboplastin-APTT (p = 0.02), C-Reactive Protein-CRP (p = 0.00) and procalcitonin (p = 0.032) levels as compared to pregnant women with mild or moderate course of the disease. Neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers presented with worse condition at 1 and 5 minutes of life (p = 0.000 and 0.00, respectively) and lower Arterial Blood Gas-ABG pH scores (p = 0.016). Elective cesarean section is the most common mode of delivery for SARS-CoV2-infected mothers. Emergency cesarean sections are performed at earlier gestational age as compared to vaginal delivery and elective cesarean section. Lower Apgar scores were observed in neonates born to SARS-CoV-2-infected mothers who required oxygen therapy and whose procalcitonin levels were elevated. There is a relationship between more severe course of COVID-19 and APTT, as well as CRP and procalcitonin levels.
