Does COVID-19 Infection Pose a Risk to Women of Childbearing Age?

Öz

Objectives: This study aims to investigate the potential differential impact of COVID-19 infection on pregnant women compared to non-pregnant individuals of childbearing age by evaluating laboratory findings from both inpatient and outpatient cases. Material and Methods: From the onset of COVID-19 in Turkey in March 2020 until the commencement of vaccination, a total of 94 COVID-19 patients were included in three separate groups: pregnant women and non-pregnant individuals with COVID-19 (with and without pneumonia). Sociodemographic data and examination findings were retrospectively retrieved from the hospital information system. Results: The study revealed that pregnant women, with a mean age of 28.87±1.38, experienced a significantly shorter mean length of hospital stay of 5.03±0.49 days compared to the other groups (p<0.001). Notably, pregnant women exhibited significant variations in urea, creatinine, white blood cell count, neutrophil count, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values in comparison to the other groups (p<0.001). Moreover, there were significant differences among the three groups concerning neutrophil and lymphocyte percentage values (p<0.001). Conclusion: The study suggests that COVID-19 infection in pregnant women is associated with more favorable clinical outcomes, shorter length of hospital stay, and relatively moderate alterations in laboratory findings when accounting for pregnancy-induced changes. It is implied that pregnancy might not pose as substantial a risk factor for severe COVID-19 infection as advanced age or underlying chronic conditions such as diabetes, asthma, COPD, and malignancy.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• COVID-19
• Infection
• Pregnancy
• Pneumonia

COVID-19 enfeksiyonu doğurganlık çağındaki kadınlar için risk oluşturur mu?

Öz

Amaç: Bu çalışma, hem yatan hem de ayakta tedavi vakalarından elde edilen laboratuvar bulgularını değerlendirerek, çocuk doğurma çağındaki hamile olmayan bireylerle karşılaştırıldığında, COVID-19 enfeksiyonunun hamile kadınlar üzerindeki potansiyel farklı etkisini araştırmayı amaçlamaktadır. Gereç ve Yöntemler: Türkiye'de COVID-19’un ortaya çıktığı Mart 2020'den aşılamanın başlamasına kadar toplam 94 COVID-19 hastası üç ayrı gruba dahil edildi: hamile kadınlar ve hamile olmayan COVID-19'lu bireyler (pnömonisi olan ve olmayanlar) . Sosyodemografik veriler ve muayene bulguları hastane bilgi sisteminden geriye dönük olarak elde edildi. Bulgular: Araştırmada yaş ortalaması 28,87±1,38 olan gebelerin diğer gruplara göre anlamlı olarak daha kısa ortalama hastanede kalış süresi (5,03±0,49 gün) yaşadığı ortaya çıktı (p<0,001). Özellikle gebelerde üre, kreatinin, beyaz küre sayısı, nötrofil sayısı, hemoglobin ve hematokrit değerlerinde diğer gruplara göre anlamlı farklılıklar görüldü (p<0,001). Ayrıca nötrofil ve lenfosit yüzde değerleri açısından da üç grup arasında anlamlı fark vardı (p<0,001). Sonuç: Çalışma, hamile kadınlarda COVID-19 enfeksiyonunun, hamileliğin neden olduğu değişiklikler hesaba katıldığında daha olumlu klinik sonuçlar, daha kısa hastanede kalış süresi ve laboratuvar bulgularında nispeten orta düzeyde değişikliklerle ilişkili olduğunu öne sürüyor. Gebeliğin ciddi COVID-19 enfeksiyonu açısından ileri yaş veya diyabet, astım, KOAH ve malignite gibi altta yatan kronik durumlar kadar önemli bir risk faktörü oluşturmayabileceği düşünülmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Covıd-19
• Enfeksiyon
• Gebelik
• Pnömoni

Kaynakça

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