Factors associated with COVID-19 severity among Brazilian pregnant adolescents: a population-based study

to identify the factors associated with need for intensive care unit admission of Brazilian pregnant adolescents with COVID-19.

population-based non-concurrent cohort study using secondary databases. Brazilian pregnant adolescents who had laboratory confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR, between March 14, 2020 and April 11, 2021 were included in the study. Statistical analysis using the Poisson multiple regression model, estimating the relative risk and respective 95% confidence intervals, with values of p <0.05 considered significant.

in total, 282 pregnant women were included in the study, with median age of 17 years, most with brown skin, in the third trimester of pregnancy, and living in urban or peri-urban areas. The intensive care unit admission rate was 14.5%, associated with living in the Southeast region of Brazil (RR=5.03, 95%CI=1.78-14.24, p=0.002), oxygen saturation below 95% (RR=2.62, 95%CI=1.17-5.87, p=0.019), and having some comorbidity (RR=2.05, 95%CI=1.01-4.16, p=0.047).

the intensive care unit admission rate was high among Brazilian pregnant adolescents and was associated with living in the Southeast region of Brazil, having some comorbidity and/or presenting low oxygen saturation.

(1) The ICU admission rate of pregnant adolescents was high: 14.5%. (2) Low oxygen saturation was a predictor of COVID-19 severity. (3) Living in the Southeast region in Brazil increased the risk of ICU admission by five times. (4) Having some comorbidity increased the risk of ICU admission by two times.