Post-COVID-19 condition after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy: a population-based questionnaire cohort study

INTRODUCTION: Post-COVID-19 condition encompasses various symptoms that can occur after the acute SARS-CoV-2 infection. The risk of developing symptoms of the post-COVID-19 condition is higher in women infected during pregnancy than in non-obstetric cohorts.

METHOD: We conducted a nationwide, prospective, population-based cohort study based on questionnaire data investigating the extent of post-COVID-19 condition after SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy and whether the condition was related to the trimester at infection or the severity of infection. All women with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test during pregnancy in Denmark between 1 March 2020 and 17 November 2021 were invited to participate by responding to an online questionnaire.

RESULT: Overall, 2,406 women met our inclusion criteria and were invited to participate by receiving an online questionnaire. In total, 1,007 (41.9%) responded to the survey, and 920 (38.2%) completed ≥70% of the items in the questionnaire and were included in the analysis. In total, 636 (69.1%) experienced a symptom of post-COVID-19 condition at any given time after SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 465 (50.1%) had at least one symptom of post-COVID-19 condition lasting ≥8 weeks after primary infection with SARS-CoV-2. The most common symptoms were fatigue, a change in the sense of smell and taste, and hair loss. The onset of most symptoms was within the first 4 weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2. The median duration of symptoms differed substantially, ranging from 4 to 40 weeks, with forgetfulness lasting the longest. Participants who experienced symptoms during their primary SARS-CoV-2 infection were more likely to report symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition. However, we found no association between disease severity or trimester of infection and subsequent post-COVID-19 condition.

CONCLUSION: Half of the women with SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy had symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition lasting ≥8 weeks. The likelihood of reporting symptoms of post-COVID-19 condition increased when having symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy. Nonetheless, we found no association between severe disease requiring hospital admission or the trimester of infection and the subsequent development of post-COVID-19 condition.