SARS-CoV-2 infection as a risk factor for preeclampsia: a case-control study

Abstract

Background: Preeclampsia is one of the most common complications in pregnancy and it affects between 1-2% of pregnant women in our environment and is a major cause of both maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity worldwide. The incidence has reduced in recent years because of implementation of the prevention strategies. Nowadays we only have symptomatic treatment while the only cure for preeclampsia is childbirth. Despite the increase in research works in this field, the cause of preeclampsia is not yet entirely clear. Some studies propose the association between infections and preeclampsia through placental injury. For this reason, and taking into account, the global pandemic of SARS-CoV-2 infection that we are living in, this study is designed to learn more about the effects of COVID-19 in pregnant women and contribute to the knowledge of the physiopathology of preeclampsia.

Objective: the aim of this study is to determinate if SARS-CoV-2 infection is a risk factor for preeclampsia.

Design: this is an observational retrospective case-control study.

Participants: pregnant women with a preeclampsia diagnosis, who will be included in the case group, and pregnant women without preeclampsia who will be assigned to the control group.

Methods: the data will be obtained mainly from the patient’s medical record where all the screening information for preeclampsia will be recruited on the 1st trimester visit. In both groups,

we will obtain a blood sample and a PCR to determine if they have a current or passed SARS- CoV-2 infection. We will collect all the information in each group to perform a statistical analysis

and confirm the association between SARS-CoV-2 infection and development of preeclampsia