The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the indications of non-COVID-19 obstetric and gynecological admissions to the intensive care unit (ICU) and its overall consequences

Since COVID-19 outbreak caused a substantial reduction in intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity, a significant change in triaging ICU admissions has become necessary for obstetric and gynecologic (OG) patients, as well. In the present study, we aimed to analyze the patients admitted to ICU for non-COVID-19 OG pathologies to understand the probable effects of the pandemic on demographics, admission rates and indications, complications, and the overall outcome. Medical records of patients who were admitted to ICU for OG diseases between 2018 and 2022 were reviewed. This four-year time was divided into two equal periods; Group I (March 2018 to March 2020, before the pandemic starts) and Group II (March 2020 to March 2022, during pandemic). Demographics, indications for admissions to ICU, length of stay, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE-II) scores and the factors contributing to their morbidity and mortality were recorded. Chi-square Kolmogorov-Smirno and Shapiro–Wilk tests were used to compare the variables. p < 0.05 was considered statistically significant. 511 patients were in Group I (61.94%) and 314 in Group II (38.06%). Between 2020 and 2022, our ICU admitted 38.56% fewer OG inpatients, compared with the pre-pandemic period (p < 0.05). While number of patients with gynecological pathologies increased (50 vs 57%), obstetric patients’ admission to ICU decreased (49 vs 42%). In gynecologic patients, postoperative complications and sepsis showed a significant rise (57 vs 69% and 7 vs 12%, p < 0.05), and most were after oncological operations (81%). There was a significant rise in numbers of pregnancy-induced hypertension and placental pathologies (29 vs 36% and 41 vs 58%, p < 0.05). Outcome of obstetric patients in ICU was good (99% survival rate). Mortality was higher in gynecologic patients (4 vs 9%, p < 0.05), correlated with the increased APACHE-II score (8 vs 10, p < 0.05). Older age and oncologic operations were the primary factors increasing mortality. Length of stay in ICU prolonged in these patients, as well (1 vs 3 days, p < 0.05). Selection of priority patients by gynecologists and intensive care specialists in cooperation, and meticulous implementation of the rule of only accepting patients with strict indications may explain the change in OG admissions during the outbreak. These findings will question the accuracy of wider indications for ICU admissions in pre-pandemic period, and help in planning the policy for future post-pandemic days.