Pregnant Women, At Greater Risk Of Severe COVID-19 Than Other Women

Researchers from the University of Oxford, in collaboration with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the Universities of Leeds and Birmingham, Kings and Imperial Colleges London, have published new research that suggests pregnant women are no more likely to become ill with severe COVID-19 than non-pregnant woman.

- Himshikha Shukla

However, the majority of women who did become severely ill were in their third trimester of pregnancy, emphasising the importance of social distancing for this group.

The analysis also showed that older pregnant women, those who were overweight or obese, and pregnant women who had pre-existing medical problems, such as high blood pressure and diabetes, were more likely to be admitted to hospital with the infection. Women who were admitted to hospital with COVID-19 in pregnancy were less likely to smoke than a group of comparison pregnant women.

OTHER IMPORTANT FINDINGS FROM THE STUDY INCLUDE:

One in five babies born to mothers hospitalised with COVID-19 were born pre-mature and were admitted to a neonatal unit. One in twenty babies born had a positive test for COVID-19, but only half of them immediately after birth.

Sixty percent of the women admitted to hospital have now given birth, while the remaining forty percent have ongoing pregnancies. Most women have now been discharged home. Around one in 10 women required intensive care, and sadly five women have died.