Michael Baracy

and 6 more

Objective: To evaluate the association of COVID-19 status in pregnant women and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Design: Retrospective Cohort Study Setting: Multicenter study from a large metropolitan hospital system Population: Pregnant patients who tested positive for COVID-19 Methods: Patients who tested positive for COVID-19 during their pregnancy and delivered (index cases) were compared to the three subsequent deliveries of patients who tested negative (controls) at the same institution. We evaluated the impact of COVID-19 on the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. We also evaluated the association of these disorders with maternal characteristics; demographics; prior pregnancy complications; current pregnancy complications; COVID-19 severity; laboratory values and inflammatory markers; and maternal and fetal outcomes. Univariable analysis was conducted with Student’s t-test, the chi-squared test and analysis of variance. Multivariable analyses were done using linear and logistic regression models. Main Outcome Measures: The incidence of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy in SARs-CoV-2 positive patients compared to SARs-CoV-2 negative patients. Results: Compared with pregnancies negative for SARs-CoV-2 infection, maternal SARs-CoV-2 infection was associated with an increased risk for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (OR 3.68, 95% CI 1.67 -8.10). Overall rates of preeclampsia with severe features were significantly higher in patients with a COVID-19 diagnosis (18.6% vs 7.1%, p=0.006). An early SARS-CoV-2 infection (prior to 32 week’s gestation) conferred a higher risk of hypertensive disorders in pregnancy compared to SARs-CoV-2 infections diagnosed after 32 weeks’ gestation(OR=6.29, CI 1.64-24.07; p=0.007). Conclusion: COVID-19 is a risk factor for hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. Funding: None Conflicts of Interest: None