Studying the Increased Risks of COVID-19 in Obese Pregnant Women in Tikrit City

Abstract

Background: It was not known whether pregnant women with (COVID-19) were at greater risk for maternal morbidities and adverse obstetric outcomes, and if pregnancy associated with obesity will have greater risk in case of infection with COVID-19.

Patients and Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out in Salah Al-Deen General Hospital /Gynecology and Obstetrics Department in Tikrit City, during period (1st Jan-12th June 2022). A convenient sample of 62 pregnant women infected with COVID19. Data collection done through a questionnaire included demographic, obstetrical, and medical information. Laboratory investigation, included Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction, levels of hemoglobin, serum ferritin, C-reactive protein, complete blood count, IgG, IgM, D-dimer, and lactate dehydrogenase.

Results: Normal body Mass Index found among (44%) of the patient followed by obese (29%), and overweight (27%). Most of the patient had COVID-19 of mild severity (58.1%), followed by moderate (29%) and sever (12.9%). Respiratory rate was ≥ 30 per minuet among (12.9%) of the patients. The symptoms of presentation were fever (75.8%), malaise (21%), cough (17.7%), sore throat (12.9%), myalgia (11.3%), sputum (9.7%), dyspnea (11.3%), headache (11.3%), and diarrhea (8.01). The distribution of patients according to severity and BMI showed that (38.9%) of obese patients had severe infection (5.9%) of the overweight patients had severe infection in comparison to (0%) of those with normal BMI.
Conclusions: Obese patients significantly had higher proportion of severe infection than the normal weight, and overweight patients. Mean D. dimer level among obese patient was significantly higher than the overweight and normal BMI patient.