Obstetric complications of dengue and chikungunya in the pregnant patient: case-control study

Dengue and chikungunya infections are transmitted by the Aedes aegypti vector; they can affect the pregnant woman and her gestation product.

To identify if dengue and chikungunya infections during pregnancy are factors associated with the presence of obstetric complications, in Colima, Mexico.

We included in this study 45 patients with obstetric complications and 90 without complications, selected by a two-stage sampling. We collected the sociodemographic, anthropometric, gynecological, and obstetric complications’ data. Descriptive statistics, non-parametric significance tests and crude and adjusted risk estimates (odds ratio [OR] and 95% confidence intervals [95% CI]) were calculated.

Out of 135 patients included, 15 had a diagnosis of dengue and 20 of chikungunya. There were obstetric complications in 60% of infected patients with chikungunya, 46.7% with dengue and 26% of non-infected (p = 0.007). Chikungunya infection (adjusted OR = 1.6) and antecedents of abortion and cesarean section (adjusted OR = 2.2) were independent risk factors associated with the presence of complications. Dengue had an adjusted OR = 1.3 without a statistically significant difference.

Chikungunya infection and antecedents of abortion and cesarean section are risk factors associated with obstetric complications. Their timely detection is a priority as a preventive strategy.