Clinical outcomes and critical care utilisation associated with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) in obstetric patients remain limited particularly in relation to severe cases.

A retrospective multicentre cohort study was conducted during the first wave of COVID-19 in France in 18 tertiary referral maternity units. Consecutive women with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 during pregnancy or the delivery hospitalisation were included between March and July 2020 (17-week period). We report clinical, obstetrical and anaesthetic outcomes of pregnant women with COVID-19 and report the prevalence of severe forms and risk factors for respiratory support in this cohort.

There were 126 included cases; RT-PCR testing occurred in 82 cases, of which 64 (78%) had a positive test. The caesarean section rate was 52%, and preterm delivery (< 37 weeks) rate was 40%. Neuraxial anaesthesia was performed in 108 (86%) cases with an increasing proportion compared to general anaesthesia over time (p < 0.0002). Twenty-eight cases received oxygen supplementation (nasal oxygen therapy or mechanical ventilation); the SOFAresp score was associated with gestational age at the time of COVID-19 presentation (p = 0.0036) and at delivery (p < 0.0001). Postpartum intensive care unit (ICU) admission occurred in 21 cases (17%) with 17 (13%) receiving invasive or non-invasive ventilation. Pre-delivery factors associated with postpartum ventilation were oxygen support, oxygen saturation and haemoglobin levels.

In our cohort, COVID-19 was associated with significant maternal morbidity resulting in high ICU admission rates (17%) and invasive or non-invasive ventilation utilisation (10%).