Impacts of Covid-19 Pandemic on the Early Trimester Pregnancies

Background and Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SAR-CoV-2) had severe consequences and complications on the global health care system. Recent medical studies have been focused on the effect of COVID-19 pandemic on pregnancies outcomes especially early pregnancies. The present study aimed to investigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic early-trimester pregnancies. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was carried out on 76 women who visited Obstetrics and Gynecology department for the first and second-trimester viability scan at Government Hospital, Samnabad Lahore from 1st January 2021 to 30th June 2021. Individuals of age between 19 years and 40 years with a diagnosis of spontaneous miscarriage were enrolled in this study. Ethical approval was taken from the respective hospital's ethical review committee. Patients with recurrent pregnancy loss, induced miscarriage, and other co-morbidities were excluded. All the demographic details were taken from the hospital medical record. All the patients underwent routine baseline tests to confirm the COVID-19 history and its impacts on the early trimester of pregnancy. The outcomes of early trimester pregnancy were viable pregnancy, miscarriage, pregnancy loss, and ectopic pregnancy were calculated in terms of frequency and percentage. SPSS version 20 was used for data analysis. Results: The overall mean age study group patients was 28.72± 3.63 years. The control group comprised 57 pregnant women with a gestational age of 5 weeks to 11 weeks, and the mean maternal age was 34.83±4.91 years. Out of total pregnant women, 31 (40.7%) were of age 19-25 years old, 29 (38.2%) had age 25 to 30 years, and 31 to 40 years were 16 (21.1%). Of the total 76 pregnant women, about 41 (54%) had a miscarriage with positive COVID-19 tests and 24 (31.6%) had spouses who had COVID-19 positive tests. History of both spouse and personal positive COVID tests were eleven patients (14.4%). The incidence of miscarriage among control group was 10 (17.5%). Conclusion: Our study found that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly affects the rate of pregnancy loss during the early trimester (first and second pregnancy). The maternal viremia or vertical transmission caused early trimester pregnancy loss and maternal infection during COVID-19. Keywords: Pregnancy, Miscarriage, COVID-19 Pandemic