Post-COVID-19 condition after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: a population-based questionnaire cohort study

Post-COVID-19 condition encompasses various symptoms that can occur after the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The risk of developing symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition is higher in women infected during pregnancy than in non-obstetric cohorts.

We conducted a nationwide, prospective, population-based cohort study based on questionnaire data investigating the extent of post-COVID-19 condition after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and whether the condition was related to the trimester at infection or the severity of infection. All women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during pregnancy in Denmark between 1 March 2020 and 17 November 2021 were invited to participate by responding to an online questionnaire.

Overall, 2,406 women met our inclusion criteria and were invited to participate by receiving an online questionnaire. In total, 1,007 (41.9%) responded to the survey, and 920 (38.2%) completed ≥70% of the items in the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. In total, 636 (69.1%) experienced a symptom of post-COVID-19 condition at any given time after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 465 (50.1%) had at least one symptom of post-COVID-19 condition lasting ≥8 weeks after primary infection with SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms were fatigue, a change in the sense of smell and taste, and hair loss. The onset of most symptoms was within the first 4 weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The median duration of symptoms differed substantially, ranging from 4 to 40 weeks, with forgetfulness lasting the longest. Participants who experienced symptoms during their primary SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to report symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition. However, we found no association between disease severity or trimester of infection and subsequent post-COVID-19 condition.

Half of the women with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy had symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition lasting ≥8 weeks. The likelihood of reporting symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition increased when having symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Nonetheless, we found no association between severe disease requiring hospital admission or the trimester of infection and the subsequent development of post-COVID-19 condition.