Clinical Epidemiology of Mothers with COVID-19 Hospitalized in Ardabil Province

Background: Pregnancy and childbirth do not increase the risk of COVID-19 infection, but the clinical complications and worsening are more severe than in non-pregnant women. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the clinical epidemiology of mothers with COVID-19 hospitalized in Ardabil province. Methods: In this cross-sectional descriptive study, the medical records of 20193 women of childbearing age from March 2020 to August 20 were reviewed. Gestational age, cause of hospitalization, the trend of disease and pregnancy, and possible and non-obstetric complications were evaluated. Data were analyzed by using statistical tests in SPSS version 21. Results: In this study, 9942 childbirths were performed, of which 5965 cesarean sections, 3977 normal deliveries, 6990 preterm deliveries, and 72 women had stillbirths. Also, 73 (0.73%) pregnant women had early symptoms of COVID-19. The highest age range was 25 - 30 years, mostly in the first pregnancy (41.9%) and the third trimester of pregnancy (61.6%) and with symptoms of persistent dry cough, shortness of breath, fever, muscle pain, chills, decreased arterial oxygen saturation and they were dizzy. Among all infected mothers, 20.5% had a preterm delivery, and 8.2% had a stillbirth. 0.36% of mothers with symptoms and 0.46% of mothers were PCR positive Conclusions: Pregnant women do not show clinical periods, and the result is comparable to non-pregnant women of childbearing age when infected with SARS-CoV-2. 0.3% of pregnant mothers were infected, which is not a high rate. Complications of pregnancy, such as preterm delivery and IUFD, are more common in involved pregnant women.