Home Covid News and Updates ICMR study finds pregnant, postpartum women more severely affected during COVID second wave

ICMR study finds pregnant, postpartum women more severely affected during COVID second wave

by Vaishali Sharma
covid-19

Pregnant and postpartum women were more severely affected during the second wave of COVID-19 as compared to the first with symptomatic cases and the case fatality rate being significantly higher among this category this year, according to a study by ICMR.

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) said cases related to pregnant and postpartum women during the first wave (April 1, 2020 – January 31, 2021) and during the second wave (February 1 to May 14, 2021) of the pandemic in India were compared.

“Symptomatic cases were significantly higher at 28.7 per cent in the second wave (111/387), compared to the first wave (162/1143) when the proportion was 14.2 per cent,” ICMR said.

“The case fatality rate (CFR) among pregnant women and postpartum women was 5.7 per cent (22/387) during the second wave, which was significantly higher compared to the scenario encounter in the first wave with CFR 0.7 per cent (8/1143),” it said.

The total number of maternal deaths during both the waves of the pandemic was two per cent (30/1530), of which the majority (28/30) were due to COVID-19 pneumonia and respiratory failure.

“The study underlines the importance of vaccination of pregnant and lactating women against COVID-19,” the ICMR said.

The COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all lactating women in India.

However, the government has still not allowed vaccinating pregnant women citing a lack of clinical trial data and the matter is under discussion by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunization (NTAGI).

WHO has recommended vaccinating pregnant women if they face a high risk of exposure to COVID and if they have co-morbid conditions.

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