Results
A total of 21 women were included. Table 1 shows the baseline
characteristics and the clinical outcomes. Of note, 15 (71.4%) women
were admitted for an obstetrical condition and 6 (28.6%) for
lower-respiratory signs or symptoms. The median (IQR)[range]
gestational age at admission of the respiratory cases was 36.5
(4.8)[32.4-40], while it was 40.0 (1)[33-42] among those women
admitted for obstetric conditions. A total of 3 women (14.3%) had
co-morbidities (one case of obesity and 2 women with asthma). Regarding
disease severity, 19% of women remained asymptomatic, 38.1% presented
a mild disease, 28.6% had a moderate infection and 14.3% a severe
maternal disease. Radiological abnormalities were present in 47.6% of
cases. Eleven women (52.4) received specific treatment for COVID-19, and
oxygen therapy was needed in 6 of them (28.6). One third of women
presented clinical deterioration, at a median of 7.4 days after symptoms
onset, and 3 of them required transfer to critical care unit. There were
no cases of sepsis, septic shock, thrombotic or cardiac complications.
No maternal deaths occurred.
Table 2 shows the perinatal outcomes, and Figure 1 depicts the
gestational age and birthweight centile distribution. Vaginal delivery
was achieved in two thirds of cases (12 spontaneous and 2 operative
vaginal delivery for fetal indications), with good neonatal outcome.
Caesarean section was performed for maternal compromise related to
COVID-19 in 3 cases (14.3%), and no indications for fetal distress were
reported. Among the cases without respiratory compromise, the global
caesarean section rate was 22% (4 cases out of 18). Preterm delivery
occurred in 4 cases (19%), half of them related to COVID-19. Table 3
compares the observed main perinatal outcomes to those expected in the
same population: of note, the observed outcome did not significantly
differ from the expected. All newborns tested negative for SARS-CoV-2 in
the first 48h of life.
In 4 cases hospital postpartum readmission was needed, in two due to
postpartum fever and two related to COVID-19 disease, with no need for
critical care support in any case.