BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (Dec 2022)

Clinical-epidemiological characteristics and maternal-foetal outcomes in pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19 in Venezuela: a retrospective study

  • Fhabián S. Carrión-Nessi,
  • Mercedes P. Castro,
  • Diana C. Freitas-De Nobrega,
  • Augusto Moncada-Ortega,
  • Óscar D. Omaña-Ávila,
  • Daniela L. Mendoza-Millán,
  • María V. Marcano-Rojas,
  • Nayren J. Trejo,
  • Isabella V. Virriel,
  • Melynar Chavero,
  • Natasha A. Camejo-Ávila,
  • Alfonso J. Rodriguez-Morales,
  • David A. Forero-Peña

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-022-05253-2
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 22, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract Background In low- and middle-income countries, pregnant women and newborns are more vulnerable to adverse outcomes from coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). However, in Venezuela, there are no integrated data in a national surveillance system to identify the clinical-epidemiological characteristics and maternal-foetal outcomes of pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19. Methods A retrospective study was conducted among Venezuelan pregnant women hospitalised with COVID-19 seen at the “Ruiz y Páez” University Hospital Complex and the San Cristobal Central Hospital between June 2020 and September 2021. Information was obtained from physical and digitised clinical records using a purpose-designed proforma to collect epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, treatment, obstetric and perinatal complications, and maternal-foetal outcomes data. Results A total of 80 pregnant women with confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection were seen within the study period, 59 (73.8%) survived and 21 (26.2%) died. The median (interquartile range) age was 29 (23–33) years, the majority being in the third trimester of pregnancy (81.2%; n = 65). Interestingly, four (5%) pregnant women were co-infected with malaria by Plasmodium vivax and three (3.8%) with syphilis. The most frequent symptoms were fever (75%; n = 60), dry cough (68.8%; n = 55), dyspnoea (55%; n = 44), and headache (53.8%; n = 43). The most frequent maternal complications were anaemia (51.5%; n = 66) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (17.5%; n = 14). The most frequent perinatal complications were preterm delivery (39.2%; n = 20/51) and oligohydramnios (31.3%; n = 25). A total of 29 (36.3%) adverse foetal outcomes were documented, 21 stillbirth and eight abortions. Conclusion This is the first study to describe the clinical-epidemiological behaviour of COVID-19 in hospitalised Venezuelan pregnant women. Anaemia, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, oligohydramnios, and low birth weight were the most frequent maternal-foetal complications in this population of pregnant women.

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