Preeclampsia in COVID-19: A Masquerading Errant—An Exploration of Foeto-Maternal Outcome from a Tertiary Care Hospital In India

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the multisystem involvement in COVID-infected patients is beyond the usual clinical manifestations of other respiratory viral illnesses. This study aims to evaluate the upshots of COVID-19 in women with preeclampsia. METHODOLOGY: This descriptive study was conducted in department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology at VMMC & Safdarjung Hospital (May–November 2020), wherein a retrospective review of the medical records of laboratory confirmed SARS CoV2-positive pregnant women (as per ICMR), with preeclampsia (as defined by ACOG guidelines), was done in the dedicated COVID labour ward. Primary outcome was incidence of preeclampsia in SARS CoV2 positive gravid females. Secondary outcomes were socio-demographic and maternal characteristics, severity of COVID-19 and foeto-maternal outcome. RESULTS: During these 7 months, 38/302 (12.58%) SARS COV2-positive women presented with pre-eclampsia, either before or at the time of admission; amongst them 47.37% were primigravida. Severe preeclampsia was chronicled in 65.71% women. Around 20% women had severe COVID-19. All women with severe COVID19 required ICU stay, 5 requiring intubation. Three of these patients succumbed to their illness. Out of the 40 babies born to these women (including 2 twin pregnancies), 36.84% were premature deliveries. Seventeen (42.50%) babies had low birth weight. Although 82.50% were live births, five (12.50%) were intrauterine demise and 2 were early neonatal deaths. CONCLUSION: Gravid women with preeclampsia infected with SARS CoV2 have comparative more severe illness, requiring more intensive care requirement and high maternal and neonatal morbidity.