comparison of obstetric and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women with and without covid-19 infection: a single-center prospective cohort study

Background & objective: the study aims to determine the adverse effects of a mild covid-19 infection on maternal and neonatal outcomes in pregnant women living in the eastern part of tehran. materials & methods: in this prospective cohort study, we followed two groups of pregnant women until term and their pregnancy and neonatal outcomes. rt-pcr (reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction) positive tests of nasopharyngeal swabs were confirmed in one group, where at least three signs and symptoms associated with covid-19, and/or chest ct scans identified highly specific findings for the disease were present. the control group is composed of healthy pregnant women tested negative for covid-19.results: the study included 319 pregnant women (108 with mild covid-19 infection and 211 healthy). a higher percentage of mothers with mild covid-19 infection had preterm births (47.9% vs. 30%, p=0.007), and their neonates required hospitalization more often (45.8% vs. 22.6%, p<0.001). ptb was positively associated with maternal hypertension (relative risk (rr): 5.40), mild covid-19 infection (rr: 2.05), and older age (rr: 1.05). among the risk factors for neonatal hospitalization, ptb (rr: 5.94), maternal hypertension (rr: 2.74), and mild covid-19 infection during pregnancy (rr: 2.57) were significant.conclusion: the outcomes of pregnancy are significantly impacted by maternal infection with covid-19, even if it is mild. preterm births are more likely to happen in mothers with mild covid-19 infection, and neonates need more hospitalizations.