Factors related to maternal mortality rate in covid-19 patients – a cross-sectional study from an Indonesian covid-19 referral hospital

Abstract

Summary: Background: The covid-19 pandemic may cause severe clinical manifestations in a vulnerable population, such as pregnant women. Based on Indonesian Obstetrics and Gynecology Association (POGI), the number of maternal deaths due to covid-19 from April 2020 to April 2021 reached 3% and increased to 9% since the delta variant of covid-19 emerged. This research was expected to identify factors that are related to the mortality rate of pregnant women with covid-19. Materials and methods: This was a cross-sectional study using secondary data collected from June 2020 to August 2021. The study was conducted in Universitas Indonesia Hospital, a national covid-19 referral hospital. Patient characteristics, pregnancy profile, comorbidities, laboratory results, chest X-ray examination, treatment options, and the severity of symptoms were evaluated. In addition, bivariate data analysis was carried out using the SPSS device. Results: Out of 114 research subjects, seven patients (6.1%) died, and 107 patients (93.9%) survived. The risk of mortality was significantly (P < 0.05) related to patients’ age, duration of hospitalization, gestational age, severity rate of covid-19, the level of hemoglobin, leukocyte count, platelet count, lymphocytes, the levels of D-dimer, C-reactive protein, transaminase enzymes, urea, creatinine, eGFR, sodium, potassium, and procalcitonin. In addition, significant differences (P < 0.05) related to maternal mortality rate were also shown in the presence of comorbidities (type 2 diabetes, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease/acute coronary syndrome, and urinary tract infection), and the use of steroids and tocilizumab. Conclusion: Various factors significantly related to the mortality rate of pregnant women with covid-19. This study may become the basis for a further study with a larger number of subjects, adjustment of assessment and management of covid-19 infected pregnant women, thus hopefully reducing the risk of mortality in pregnant women with covid-19. Key words: covid-19 – mortality – pregnancy – related factors