Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in late pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes

Abstract

Objective To investigate the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection in late pregnancy on pregnancy outcomes of pregnant women perinatal period. Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the data of 101 pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 during late pregnancy who delivered at Changzhou Maternal and Child Health Care Hospital between November 2022 and January 2023. A control group of 238 healthy pregnant women who delivered during the same period was selected for comparison. Changes in laboratory indicators and the effects on maternal and neonatal outcomes following SARS-CoV-2 infection in late pregnancy were analyzed. Results The lymphocyte count in the infected group was lower than that in the control group [ (1.25±0.69) ×109/L vs (1.68±0.51) ×109/L, P<0.01], and the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) level in the infected group was significantly lower than that in the control group [1.48 (0.71, 2.46) μIU/mL vs 2.16 (1.42, 3.14) μIU/mL, P<0.01]. The infected group exhibited higher levels of D-dimer [0.68 (0.47, 1.04) mg/L], C-reactive protein [8.00 (3.70, 12.90) mg/L], and free thyroxine [ ( 7.37±1.18) pmol/L] compared to the control group [0.62 (0.42, 0.82) mg/L, 4.35 (2.40, 6.73) mg/L, (8.05±1.25) pmol/L, P<0.05]. The incidences of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (including preeclampsia) and subclinical hyperthyroidism in the infected group were significantly higher than those in the control group (P<0.05). Conclusion Pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 in late pregnancy may face an increased risk of thrombosis during the perinatal period, as well as a higher incidence of complications such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and subclinical hyperthyroidism in late pregnancy