- Study found roughly 1 in 10 with COVID during pregnancy will develop post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC or long COVID)
- The average age of the cohort was 32 years old
- Several socioeconomic and clinical characteristics were associated with the development of PASC
- Most common symptoms were post-exertional malaise, fatigue and dizziness
While there is a growing body of research about the long-term effects of COVID in the general adult population, little research has been done on the long-term impacts on those who get COVID while pregnant.
In a new study presented at the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting, researchers will presented findings that suggest that approximately 1 in 10 people who have COVID during pregnancy will develop long COVID.
Researchers followed a group of individuals from across the United States who got COVID while pregnant.
Of the 1,503 people in the pregnancy cohort, slightly more than half (51 percent) were fully vaccinated before contracting COVID; and the average age at infection was about 32 years old. The study looked at a person’s pre-existing conditions, socioeconomic status, and severity of COVID during pregnancy.
The pregnancy cohort is part of a larger study, the NIH RECOVER Initiative, that aims to learn more about the long-term effects of COVID in adults and children.
Researchers found that 9.3 percent of pregnant people developed long COVID when evaluated six months or more after their initial infection. The most common symptoms people reported included feeling worn out after even minor physical or mental activity, also known as post-exertional malaise, fatigue, and dizziness.
Researchers also found that pregnant people who were obese or suffered from depression or chronic anxiety as well as those who reported having difficulty paying their bills were all at greater risk of developing long COVID. People who had a more severe case of COVID and required oxygen while pregnant were also at higher risk of developing long COVID.
Development of post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC) after infection in pregnancy: NIH RECOVER-Pregnancy Cohort. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, January 2024
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