Study reveals COVID during pregnancy is associated with preterm birth

Aug 11, 2021

New Delhi, Aug 11 (ANI): According to a large study led by researchers at UC San Francisco, pregnant individuals who contract COVID face a higher risk of having a very preterm birth, as well as any preterm birth. The findings of the study were published in the journal 'The Lancet Regional Health - Americas'. The risk of giving birth at less than 37 weeks (all preterm births) was 40 per cent higher in those with infection. For those who also had hypertension, diabetes and obesity as well as COVID, the risk of preterm birth rose 160 per cent. Pregnant people are considered a high-risk population for COVID infection, yet less than a quarter have received at least one dose of vaccine. Pregnant people are considered a high-risk population for COVID infection, yet less than a quarter have received at least one dose of vaccine. Limitations of the study included that it couldn't determine when during pregnancy the individuals contracted COVID.