Impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy outcomes during delivery admissions: a nationwide analysis with clinical implications.

Background: The available literature indicates a link between SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and a heightened probability of experiencing negative outcomes for both the pregnant patient and the developing fetus. We compared clinical outcomes of pregnant patients with or without COVID-19 hospitalized during delivery. Methods: Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to compare outcomes and was adjusted for patient-related, hospital-related, and illness severity indicators. Results: We identified a total of 3,447,771 pregnant patients admitted between January 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020; 1.3% (n = 46,050) had COVID-19. COVID-19-positive patients had higher rates of in-hospital mortality (0.15% vs 0.05%, adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 5.97, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.5-14.25, P < 0.001), mechanical ventilation (0.9% vs 0.05%, aOR 14.2, 95% CI 10.7-18.76, P < 0.001), vasopressor use (0.26% vs 0.14%, aOR 1.47, 95% CI 1.07-2.02, P = 0.01), and perinatal maternal complications like preeclampsia (9.66% vs 7.04%, aOR 1.29, 95% CI 1.2-1.39, P < 0.001) and hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelet count (HELLP) syndrome (0.53% vs 0.26%, aOR 1.93, 95% CI 1.43-2.61, P < 0.001) than COVID-19-negative patients. Discussion: Clinicians should be aware of the heightened risk of complications in pregnant patients with COVID-19 and consider strategies to mitigate them.

Assessment of radionuclides in the soil of residential areas of the Chittagong metropolitan city, Bangladesh and evaluation of associated radiological risk.

Soil samples from the three residential hubs of Chittagong city, Bangladesh were analyzed using gamma spectrometry to estimate radiation hazard due to natural radioactive sources and anthropogenic nuclide (137)Cs. The activity concentration of (226)Ra was found to be in the range 11-25 Bq.kg(-1), (232)Th in the range 38-59 Bq.kg(-1) and (40)K in the range 246-414 Bq.kg(-1). These results were used to calculate the radiological hazard parameters including Excess of Lifetime Cancer Risk (ELCR). The estimated outdoor gamma exposure rates were 40.6-63.8 nGy.h(-1). The radiation hazard index (radium equivalent activity) ranged from 90-140 Bq.kg(-1). The average value of the ELCR was found to be 0.21 × 10(-3), which is lower than the world average. Sporadic fallout of (137)Cs was observed with an average value of 2.0 Bq.kg(-1).