Impact of COVID-19 on Pregnancy Outcomes across Trimesters in the United States

Abstract

Background: Current knowledge regarding the association between trimester-specific changes during pregnancy and COVID-19 infection is limited. We utilized the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database to investigate trimester-specific outcomes among hospitalized pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19. Results: Out of 3,447,771 pregnant women identified, those with COVID-19 exhibited higher in-hospital mortality rates in their third trimester compared with those without the virus. Notably, rates of mechanical ventilation, acute kidney injury, renal replacement therapy, and perinatal complications (preeclampsia, HELLP syndrome, and preterm birth) were significantly elevated across all trimesters for COVID-19 patients. COVID-19 was found to be more prevalent among low-income, Hispanic pregnant women. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that COVID-19 during pregnancy is associated with increased risk of maternal mortality and complications, particularly in the third trimester. Furthermore, we observed significant racial and socioeconomic disparities in both COVID-19 prevalence and pregnancy outcomes. These findings emphasize the need for equitable healthcare strategies to improve care for diverse and socioeconomically marginalized groups, ultimately aiming to reduce adverse COVID-19-associated maternal and fetal outcomes.