Covid-19 during pregnancy linked with a higher risk of preterm birth: Study

<p>According to a recent study published in The Lancet Regional Health, pregnant women who contract COVID-19 infection face a higher risk of preterm birth. The researchers also noted that having comorbidities along with Covid-19 infection increases the possibility of preterm birth.</p> <p>The researchers analysed all live births between July 2020 and January 2021 documented by California Vital Statistics birth certificates. Of the 240,157 recorded births, nearly 9,000, or 3.7 percent, indicated a Covid-19 diagnosis in <a href=https://www.editorji.com/story/here-s-why-a-heart-health-check-up-is-essential-before-pregnancy-1628567056810 target=_blank>pregnancy</a>. The preterm birth rate among birthing people with a COVID-19 diagnosis was 11.8 percent compared with 8.7 percent among those without <a href=https://www.editorji.com/covid-19 target=_blank>COVID-19</a>.</p> <p><strong>Also Watch:&nbsp;<a href=https://www.editorji.com/story/pregnancy-covid-19-what-the-latest-research-says-1619419121547 target=_blank>Pregnant women need to be extra careful with Covid-19. Heres why</a></strong></p> <p>As per the findings, the risk of preterm birth or giving birth at less than 37 weeks was 40 percent higher in those with the SARS-CoV-2 infection. And for those who also had hypertension, diabetes or obesity along with Covid-19, the risk of preterm birth rose 160 percent.</p>