S. Hantoushzadeh, A. Shamshirsaz, A. Aleyasin, Maxim Seferovic, Soudabeh Kazemi Aski, S. Arian, P. Pooransari, Fahimeh Ghotbizadeh, Soroush Aalipour, Z. Soleimani, M. Naemi, B. Molaei, R. Ahangari, M. Salehi, Atousa Dabiri Oskoei, Parisa Pirozan, R. F. Darkhaneh, Mahboobeh Gharib Laki, Ali Karimi Farani, Shahla Atrak, M. Miri, Mehran Kouchek, S. Shojaei, F. Hadavand, F. Keikha, M. Hosseini, S. Borna, Shideh Ariana, M. Shariat, A. Fatemi, B. Nouri, S. M. Nekooghadam, K. Aagaard
American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 2020
Abstract Background Despite 2.5 million infections and 169,000 deaths worldwide (current as of April 20, 2020), no maternal deaths and only a few pregnant women afflicted with severe respiratory morbidity had been reported to be related to COVID-19 disease. Given the disproportionate burden of severe and mortal respiratory disease previously documented among pregnant women following other related coronavirus outbreaks (SARS-CoV in 2003 and MERS-CoV) and influenza pandemics over the last century, the absence of reported maternal morbidity and mortality with COVID-19 disease is unexpected. Objectives To describe maternal and perinatal outcomes and death in a case series of pregnant women with COVID-19 disease. Study design We describe here a multi-institution adjudicated case series from Iran which includes 9 pregnant women diagnosed with severe COVID-19 disease during their latter 2nd or 3rd trimester. All 9 pregnant women were diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection by rRT-PCR nucleic acid testing (NAT). Outcomes of these women were compared to their familial/household members with exposure to the affected patient on or after their symptom onset. All data were reported at death or after a minimum of 14 days from date of admission with COVID-19 disease. Results Among 9 pregnant women with severe COVID-19 disease, at the time of reporting 7 of 9 died, 1 of 9 remains critically ill and ventilator-dependent, and 1 of 9 recovered after prolonged hospitalization. We obtained self-verified familial/household cohort data in all 9 cases, and in each and every instance the maternal outcomes were more severe when compared to other high and low-risk familial/household members (n=33 members for comparison). Conclusion We report herein maternal deaths due to COVID-19 disease. Until rigorously collected surveillance data emerges, it is prudent to be aware of the potential for maternal death among pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 disease in their latter trimester(s).
Cited by 149 publications.
Field of study: Medicine