Obesity during Pregnancy and SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19-Case Series of the Registry Study "COVID-19 Related Obstetric and
Friederike Weschenfelder1, Janine Zöllkau1, Anna Schohe2
1Department of Obstetrics, University Hospital Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany.
Insights
Maternal obesity is linked to severe outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19, including higher rates of gestational diabetes and C-sections. However, categorized obesity showed limited independent influence on pregnancy outcomes with COVID-19 infection.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Obesity presents a growing challenge in managing pregnant populations.
- The study addresses the critical need to understand obesity's impact on pregnancy outcomes during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine if obesity is an independent risk factor for severe maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19.
- To analyze the association between obesity and specific pregnancy and neonatal complications.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS) registry.
- Prospective, multicenter registry including pregnant women with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Analyzed the effect of obesity on individual and combined maternal and neonatal outcome parameters.
Main Results:
- Obesity prevalence in the CRONOS registry (20.1%) surpassed the German background rate (17.5%).
- Obese pregnant women exhibited significantly higher rates of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus (GDM), hypertensive pregnancy disorders, and Cesarean sections (C-sections).
- Body Mass Index (BMI) emerged as an independent risk factor for severe combined pregnancy outcomes, including maternal death, stillbirth, or preterm birth before 32 weeks gestation.
Conclusions:
- Maternal BMI is a significant predictor of severe outcomes such as maternal or neonatal death and preterm delivery before 32 weeks.
- Categorized obesity appeared to have a limited independent effect on the overall course and outcomes of pregnancies complicated by COVID-19 infection.
Abstract:
(1) Background: Obesity is an increasing challenge in the care of pregnant women. The aim of our study was to investigate whether obesity is an independent risk factor for severe maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with COVID-19. (2) Methods: Data from the COVID-19 Related Obstetric and Neonatal Outcome Study (CRONOS), a prospective multicenter registry for SARS-CoV-2 positive pregnant women, was used to analyze the effect of obesity on selected individual and combined outcome parameters (3) Results: With 20.1%, the prevalence of obesity in the CRONOS registry exceeds the German background rate of 17.5%. Obese women showed significantly higher rates of GDM (20.4% vs. 7.6%; p < 0.001), hypertensive pregnancy disorders (6.2% vs. 2%; p = 0.004) and C-sections (50% vs. 34.5%; p < 0.001). BMI was revealed to be an individual risk factor for the severe combined pregnancy outcome (maternal death, stillbirth or preterm birth < 32 weeks) (OR 1.050, CI 1.005-1.097). (4) Conclusions: Maternal BMI is a predictor for the most severe outcome as maternal or neonatal death and preterm delivery <32 weeks of gestation. Unexpectedly, categorized obesity seems to have limited independent influence on the course and outcome of pregnancies with COVID infections.
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