Covid-19 during pregnancy linked with a higher risk of preterm birth: Study

According to a recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health, pregnant women who contract COVID-19 infection face a higher risk of preterm birth. The researchers also noted that having comorbidities along with Covid-19 infection increases the possibility of preterm birth.

The researchers analysed all live births between July 2020 and January 2021 documented by California Vital Statistics birth certificates. Of the 240,157 recorded births, nearly 9,000, or 3.7 percent, indicated a Covid-19 diagnosis in pregnancy. The preterm birth rate among birthing people with a COVID-19 diagnosis was 11.8 percent compared with 8.7 percent among those without COVID-19.

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As per the findings, the risk of preterm birth or giving birth at less than 37 weeks was 40 percent higher in those with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. And for those who also had hypertension, diabetes or obesity along with Covid-19, the risk of preterm birth rose 160 percent.