Determination of COVID-19 Mortality and Morbidity in Women Who Had Cesarean Sections and Terminated Pregnancies

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 infection is a contemporary global concern with serious ramifications. This disease is caused by a virus belonging to the Coronaviridae family named SARS-CoV-2. Immunologic and physiologic changes during pregnancy make pregnant women more susceptible to viral infection, especially COVID-19. Objectives: The present study aimed to identify the clinical manifestations, radiologic findings, indications for cesarean delivery, underlying conditions, and the critical outcome of mothers and newborns regarding COVID-19 women who had cesarean sections and terminated pregnancies. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted on the mortality and morbidity rates of 98 women with terminated pregnancies infected with COVID-19 at the time of their cesarean delivery. The demographic, clinical, and pregnancy data were collected from Razi Teaching Hospital between March 2020 and March 2021 and analyzed using SPSS version 24. Results: The mean age was 31.31 ± 7.16, and the mean gestational age was 36.45 ± 3.334 weeks. The most prevalent cause of cesarean section was fetal distress (28%), followed by preeclampsia and meconium aspiration. The most common symptoms were sore throat, cough, fever, nausea, diarrhea, and weakness; moreover, hypothyroidism and diabetes mellitus were the most predominant underlying diseases. The mean duration for hospitalization was 5.21 ± 4.584 days, the maternal death rate was 5.1%, and the neonatal death rate was 2%. Conclusions: The majority of women infected with COVID-19 had cesarean sections and terminated pregnancies in the third trimester. This highlights the need for better care and education for mothers in this period. The body mass index (BMI) level and obesity are strongly associated with COVID-19 severity. Furthermore, healthcare workers should pay more attention to underlying diseases during pregnancy.