The presence of COVID-19 along with at least one comorbidity in pregnant women increased the chances of being admitted to intensive care unit and mortality, concluded a study published in the International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics. To study the effect of COVID-19 on pregnancy and postnatal, Marco La Verde et al. performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the attributes of pregnant women deceased because of COVID-19.

Databases like Embase, MEDLINE, Scopus, Google Scholar, and Cochrane Library were explored for relevant studies comparing the deceased and lived pregnant women with COVID-19. The primary outcome was maternal comorbidity. On the whole, 13 studies with 154 deceased pregnant women were considered. Obesity was reported to double the risk of mortality. No differences were noted for gestational diabetes or asthma.

Of particular interest, the occurrence of at least 1 comorbidity increased the risk of mortality by up to 2 times. Admission to the intensive care unit was linked to 5 times greater risk of mortality, with no difference found in the need for mechanical ventilation or respiratory support.