SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy — single-center retrospective study

Objectives: The SARS-CoV-2 virus infection has spread to almost all countries in the last two years. Pregnancy complicated with COVID-19 is a unique situation and challenge for doctors. The study aimed to evaluate obstetric results, and biochemical test results and to analyze the treatment used in pregnant patients complicated with COVID-19 infection. Material and methods: A retrospective analysis of 146 pregnant patients hospitalized at the Department of Obstetrics and Perinatology Jagiellonian University Medical College (JUMC) in Krakow was conducted from July 2020 to August 2021. Results: In the analyzed group respiratory failure occurred in 19.19% of cases and intravascular coagulation syndrome (DIC) in 1.37%. One patient died (0.68%). 16.6% of cases were transferred to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and required intubation. The remaining cases were mild: 39.04% were asymptomatic, 41.78% reported cough, 30.82% dyspnoea and 23.97% myalgia. In the laboratory tests increased values of CRP and IL-6 were observed with normal levels of leukocytes. Additionally, a decreased level of total protein and an increased level of d-dimers were detected. 98.63% of patients received a prophylactic dose of low molecular weight heparin. 46.58% of cases needed additional antibiotic therapy. Cesarean sections were performed in 59.59% of cases. The children were born in good general condition. Vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 to the newborn has not been confirmed. Conclusions: Data from the above study show a significant effect of COVID-19 on pregnant patients. Almost one in five pregnant women occurred respiratory failure and most of them had to be transferred to the ICU department and had to be intubated

Evaluation of the prevalence of folic acid supplementation before conception and through the first 12 weeks of pregnancy in Polish women at high risk of fetal anomalies

Objectives: Local and international organizations recommend folic acid (FA) supplementation in the periconceptional period. This study aimed to analyse the prevalence of periconceptional supplementation with FA in women at high risk of fetal anomalies refferred for first trimester screening.Material and methods: Our analysis involved 1,455 women at high risk of fetal anomalies refferred for first trimester screening. FA supplementation was assessed by face-to-face interviews conducted by doctors performing first trimester screening for aneuploidy.Results: FA supplementation before pregnancy was reported by 46.8% of the women and during the first trimester by 57.2% of those studied. Women used FA supplementation more frequently if they had a history of at least one miscarriage (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.70–2.83; p < 0.001), a history of assissted reproductive techniques (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.18–4.31; p = 0.014), or were aged between 30 and 34 (OR 2.87, 95% CI 1.47–5.58; p = 0.002). Among 122 women with a history of fetal defects only 50% confirmed FA supplementation before pregnancy and 62.2% during pregnancy (p = 0.488). A similar frequency of FA supplementation was noted among women with epilepsy, diabetes, and hypertension. Less frequent taking of FA was noted among women at least third and subsequent pregnancies (p < 0.001). In the current pregnancy, neural tube defects (NTDs) were less frequent by 86% in the group of women with FA supplementation than in the non-supplementation group (1 case vs 6 cases, respectively) and for other fetal defects by 62.5% (24 vs 40 cases, respectively).Conclusions: We found an unsatisfactory compliance with recommendations for the use of folic acid supplementation during periconceptional period among women at high risk of fetal defects and folate deficiency, that could have negative effects on the health of child and mother. The study results show the need to increase the awareness of FA supplementation during periconceptional period especially in women with high risk of fetal anomalies