Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women

Background: This study compares organ dysfunction, treatment strategies, and unfavorable outcome rates between pregnant and nonpregnant women admitted to the ICU with severe COVID-19, highlighting the increased susceptibility of pregnant women to respiratory infections due to physiological changes....

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Main Authors: Małgorzata Lipińska-Gediga, Waldemar Goździk, Jakub Śmiechowicz, Barbara Adamik
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-12-01
Series:Viruses
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/51
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author Małgorzata Lipińska-Gediga
Waldemar Goździk
Jakub Śmiechowicz
Barbara Adamik
author_facet Małgorzata Lipińska-Gediga
Waldemar Goździk
Jakub Śmiechowicz
Barbara Adamik
author_sort Małgorzata Lipińska-Gediga
collection DOAJ
description Background: This study compares organ dysfunction, treatment strategies, and unfavorable outcome rates between pregnant and nonpregnant women admitted to the ICU with severe COVID-19, highlighting the increased susceptibility of pregnant women to respiratory infections due to physiological changes. Methods: A retrospective, age-matched study was conducted at a referral center specializing in critical care for pregnant women. Data from 14 pregnant/postpartum and 11 nonpregnant women were analyzed at ICU admission and on days 3, 5, and 7. Results: Acute respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed in 100% of the pregnant/postpartum group and 64% of the nonpregnant group (<i>p</i> = 0.026). Inflammatory parameters were similar between groups, except for lower ferritin levels in the pregnant/postpartum group compared to the nonpregnant (120 vs. 568 µg/L at admission and 90 vs. 616 µg/L on day 3). Creatinine, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in the pregnant/postpartum group. A reduction in the SOFA score was observed over time in the pregnant/postpartum group (from 7.0 to 4.0 points, <i>p</i> = 0.009), while no change was noticed in the nonpregnant group (from 3.0 to 2.5 points, <i>p</i> = 0.181). Unfavorable outcome rates were similar, with two patients from each group succumbing to the disease (<i>p</i> = 0.604). Conclusions: The findings suggest that pregnancy does not increase the risk of unfavorable outcomes among women with severe COVID-19 receiving ICU treatment. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these observations.
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spelling doaj-art-44359d0e777a424a9c0cf954fe5715ae2025-01-24T13:52:24ZengMDPI AGViruses1999-49152024-12-011715110.3390/v17010051Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant WomenMałgorzata Lipińska-Gediga0Waldemar Goździk1Jakub Śmiechowicz2Barbara Adamik3Clinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, PolandClinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, PolandClinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, PolandClinical Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Wroclaw Medical University, Borowska 213, 50-556 Wroclaw, PolandBackground: This study compares organ dysfunction, treatment strategies, and unfavorable outcome rates between pregnant and nonpregnant women admitted to the ICU with severe COVID-19, highlighting the increased susceptibility of pregnant women to respiratory infections due to physiological changes. Methods: A retrospective, age-matched study was conducted at a referral center specializing in critical care for pregnant women. Data from 14 pregnant/postpartum and 11 nonpregnant women were analyzed at ICU admission and on days 3, 5, and 7. Results: Acute respiratory distress syndrome was diagnosed in 100% of the pregnant/postpartum group and 64% of the nonpregnant group (<i>p</i> = 0.026). Inflammatory parameters were similar between groups, except for lower ferritin levels in the pregnant/postpartum group compared to the nonpregnant (120 vs. 568 µg/L at admission and 90 vs. 616 µg/L on day 3). Creatinine, lactate, and lactate dehydrogenase levels were significantly lower in the pregnant/postpartum group. A reduction in the SOFA score was observed over time in the pregnant/postpartum group (from 7.0 to 4.0 points, <i>p</i> = 0.009), while no change was noticed in the nonpregnant group (from 3.0 to 2.5 points, <i>p</i> = 0.181). Unfavorable outcome rates were similar, with two patients from each group succumbing to the disease (<i>p</i> = 0.604). Conclusions: The findings suggest that pregnancy does not increase the risk of unfavorable outcomes among women with severe COVID-19 receiving ICU treatment. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these observations.https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/51COVID-19acute respiratory failureacute respiratory distress syndromeorgan failurepregnancysepsis
spellingShingle Małgorzata Lipińska-Gediga
Waldemar Goździk
Jakub Śmiechowicz
Barbara Adamik
Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
Viruses
COVID-19
acute respiratory failure
acute respiratory distress syndrome
organ failure
pregnancy
sepsis
title Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
title_full Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
title_fullStr Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
title_full_unstemmed Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
title_short Pregnancy and COVID-19: Comparing ICU Outcomes for Pregnant and Nonpregnant Women
title_sort pregnancy and covid 19 comparing icu outcomes for pregnant and nonpregnant women
topic COVID-19
acute respiratory failure
acute respiratory distress syndrome
organ failure
pregnancy
sepsis
url https://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/17/1/51
work_keys_str_mv AT małgorzatalipinskagediga pregnancyandcovid19comparingicuoutcomesforpregnantandnonpregnantwomen
AT waldemargozdzik pregnancyandcovid19comparingicuoutcomesforpregnantandnonpregnantwomen
AT jakubsmiechowicz pregnancyandcovid19comparingicuoutcomesforpregnantandnonpregnantwomen
AT barbaraadamik pregnancyandcovid19comparingicuoutcomesforpregnantandnonpregnantwomen