Pregnancy-Related Complications During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Iran

The COVID-19 pandemic has profoundly affected healthcare systems worldwide, with significant collateral damage to vulnerable populations, including the perinatal population. This study sought to compare pregnancy-related complications before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran.

This retrospective data analysis was performed from February 20 to August 20, 2019 (prior to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic) and from February 20 to August 20, 2020 (during the pandemic), encompassing the initial wave of the pandemic and the subsequent lockdown. To collect data, we utilized the medical records of 168,358 women obtained from the Iranian Maternal and Neonatal Network, which is a comprehensive electronic health record database management system specifically designed to store information pertaining to maternal and neonatal health.

A total of 168,358 medical records were analyzed, with 87388 (51.9%) and 80970 (48.1%) before and during the pandemic, respectively. The occurrence of pregnancy complications was found to be significantly more frequent during the pandemic compared to the pre-pandemic period. Notably, there was a higher likelihood of experiencing preeclampsia (odds ratio [OR]=1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.07‒1.22, P=0.0001) and gestational diabetes (OR=1.14, 95% CI: 1.09‒1.19, P=0.0001) during the pandemic. Furthermore, cesarean section (CS) became more prevalent during the pandemic in comparison to vaginal delivery (OR=1.19, 95% CI: 1.17‒-1.22, P=0.0001).

Our findings demonstrated a significant association between the COVID-19 pandemic and an escalation in adverse pregnancy outcomes, notably preeclampsia, gestational diabetes, and CS deliveries. However, further research is warranted to gain a richer understanding of the intricate interplay between the COVID-19 pandemic and pregnancy complications. This is particularly crucial in light of the evolving landscape of new coronavirus variants.