amniotic fluid disorders in pregnant women with covid-19 in ardabil (iran): a descriptive cross-sectional study (2020-2022)

Background and aims: pregnant women faced heightened vulnerability during the coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic, with evidence suggesting increased risks of adverse outcomes. however, the impact of covid-19 on amniotic fluid disorders remains understudied. during the covid-19 pandemic, oligohydramnios was more prevalent among pregnant women, and evidence indicates that covid-19 increases the likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes. this study investigated the prevalence and characteristics of amniotic fluid disorders (oligohydramnios and polyhydramnios) among pregnant women with covid-19 in ardabil, iran (2020–2022). methods: a descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted on 207 covid-19-positive pregnant women admitted to alavi hospital. data included demographics, clinical symptoms, disease severity (mild/moderate/severe), lung involvement, hospitalization, intensive care requirements, amniotic fluid disorders, and pregnancy outcomes (miscarriage, preterm delivery, cesarean section). statistical analysis was performed using spss version 21, with p<0.05 considered statistically significant. results: the mean maternal age was 28.3±6.5 years, with covid-19 infections occurring during the first (3.9%), second (47.3%), and third trimesters (48.8%). disease severity was mild (48.3%), moderate (40.6%), or severe (11.1%), with 3.4% of patients requiring intensive care unit (icu) admission. oligohydramnios was observed in 9.2% of cases, and it was significantly associated with third-trimester infection (p=0.007), shortness of breath (p=0.004), lung involvement (p=0.027), severe disease (p<0.001), icu admission (p<0.001), cesarean section (p=0.021), and preterm birth (p<0.001). no significant correlations were found with maternal age, body mass index (bmi), or underlying conditions (p>0.05). conclusion: this study observed that covid-19-associated oligohydramnios affected nearly one in 10 pregnancies, with a higher prevalence in severe cases, third-trimester infections, and women exhibiting respiratory complications. cesarean delivery and preterm birth rates were significantly elevated in these patients, underscoring the need for targeted monitoring in high-risk pregnancies.