Information about the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on pregnant women is still limited
and raises challenges, even as publications are increasing rapidly. The aim of the present study was
to determine the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on preterm birth pregnancies. We performed a
prospective, observational study in a COVID-only hospital, which included 34 pregnant women with
SARS-CoV-2 infection and preterm birth compared with a control group of 48 healthy women with
preterm birth. The rate of cesarean delivery was 82% in the study group versus 6% for the control
group. We observed a strong correlation between premature birth and the presence of COVID-19
symptoms (cough p = 0.029, fever p = 0.001, and chills p = 0.001). The risk for premature birth is
correlated to a lower value of oxygen saturation (p = 0.001) and extensive radiologic pulmonary lesions
(p = 0.025). The COVID-19 pregnant women with preterm delivery were older, and experienced an
exacerbation of severe respiratory symptoms, decreased saturation of oxygen, increased inflammatory
markers, severe pulmonary lesions and decreased lymphocytes
