Moderate to Severe Thrombocytopenia and Survival Predictors in Pregnant Women  During the Post-COVID-19 Pandemic ERA

Abstract

Objective: To determine the moderate to severe thrombocytopenia (platelet count ≤100,000/ml) in pregnant women during routine follow-up visits and assess the associated risk of maternal death. Study Design: Cross-sectional study. Place and Duration of Study: Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi and Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from May to Dec 2022. Methodology: The study included ninety-four pregnant women who had a history of COVID-19 infection in their current pregnancy or in the past, had been vaccinated against the Sars-CoV-2 virus, and had a platelet count of less than 100,000/mL. Regression analysis was used to determine whether variables were significant predictors of survival, and appropriate statistical tests were used to evaluate significant relationships. Results: During the study period, 2,104 patients gave birth vaginally or by caesarean section. For this duration, the frequency of pregnant women with platelet counts below 100,000/ml was calculated at 4.47%. Only four of the 94 patients died. Potential survival predictors identified were hemoglobin level, COVID-19 infection history, and COVID-19 infection during the current pregnancy. Conclusions: The frequency of patients with moderate to severe thrombocytopenia has increased from 1% to 4.47 percent in the post-COVID-19 pandemic era. Pregnant women with moderate to severe thrombocytopenia have significant predictors of survival, including a history of COVID-19 infection, current COVID-19 infection, and haemoglobin levels.

Keywords

• COVID-19 vaccines, COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, Gestational thrombocytopenia, Post-COVID-19 autoimmune phenomenon.