Evaluation of long‐COVID symptoms in women infected with SARS‐CoV‐2 during pregnancy

Abstract

ObjectiveTo evaluate the symptoms of Long COVID (LC), frequency of symptoms, and possible risk factors in women diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) during pregnancy.MethodsWe conducted a single‐center, cross‐sectional, retrospective study in 99 pregnant women who were polymerase chain reaction‐positive (PCR+) for COVID‐19 between March 1, 2020 and April 30, 2022. The control group consisted of 99 women who gave birth between these dates and did not have COVID‐19. We evaluated the clinical manifestations, symptom prevalence, and symptom characteristics of acute COVID‐19 and the LC in the PCR+ group as well as questioned the control group for LC symptoms.ResultsOf the women in the PCR+ group, 74 (74.7%) had at least one LC symptom, and the most common symptoms were fatigue (54; 72.9%), myalgia/arthralgia (49; 66.2%), and anosmia/ageusia (31; 41.9%). The rate of LC symptoms in the control group was 14 (14.1%). The prevalence of LC symptoms was higher in severely/critically symptomatic patients (23; 100%) in the acute period of disease than in asymptomatic/mildly symptomatic (51; 67.1%) (P = 0.005). Hospitalization during acute infection (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 13.30), having one or more symptoms (aOR = 4.75), and having symptoms such as cough (aOR = 6.27) and myalgia/arthralgia (aOR = 12.93) increased the likelihood of LC.ConclusionMany women experienced LC after suffering acute COVID‐19 in pregnancy, but LC prevalence was similar to the general population. LC correlates with severity, type, and number of symptoms of acute COVID‐19.

Post-COVID in women after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy – a pilot study with follow-up data from the COVID-19-related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS)

“…more than 18 months after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, indicating a persistent symptom burden. A high incidence of symptom persistency was also found in a study by Kandemir et al, where 74.7 % of women with SARS-CoV-2-infection during pregnancy experienced long-COVID symptoms [6]. The authors also found an association between initial symptom severity and incidence of long-COVID [6], an association we saw in our cohort when comparing the prevalence of post-COVID and initial symptom severity.…”

“…A high incidence of symptom persistency was also found in a study by Kandemir et al, where 74.7 % of women with SARS-CoV-2-infection during pregnancy experienced long-COVID symptoms [6]. The authors also found an association between initial symptom severity and incidence of long-COVID [6], an association we saw in our cohort when comparing the prevalence of post-COVID and initial symptom severity. This suggests the possibility of symptoms manifesting or worsening over time, necessitating continuous maternal monitoring and assessment [21].…”

“…As this symptom was predominantly stated within the context of other persistent COVID-19 symptoms in our study, it cannot be solely attributed to co-morbidities or changed social circumstances. A retrospective study on long-COVID symptoms in women diagnosed with COVID-19 infection during pregnancy, also revealed a high rate of fatigue (72.9 %); myalgia/arthralgia (66.2 %), and anosmia/ageusia (41.9 %) being the most commonly reported long-COVID symptoms [6]. Assessing the quality of life, we found a significant proportion of women being satisfied with their quality of life.…”

“…Recent studies have shown that pregnant women are at increased risk of severe COVID-19 compared to non-pregnant women, and may experience a higher risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth and stillbirth [2][3][4][5]. Additionally, women with COVID-19 symptoms during pregnancy seem to experience persistent symptoms beyond acute infection more often [6]. Long-COVID is generally defined as symptoms persisting for at least four weeks, while post-COVID refers to symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks [1, 7,8].…”

The knowns and unknowns of long COVID-19: from mechanisms to therapeutical approaches

“…In pregnant women, C19 had more serious consequences in the acute phase, with premature births and even deaths among both mothers and newborns. In terms of the long-term effects of the virus on pregnant women, research shows a similarity between the symptoms of the general population and pregnant women ( 147 , 148 ). For example, in their study conducted on 99 pregnant women, Zhou et al.…”