Association between Corticosteroid Administration in Pregnant Women with COVID-۱۹ and Neonatal Outcomes

Background: The evidence for the effect of corticosteroid administration on neonates in pregnant women who tested positive for COVID-۱۹ is rare. This study aims to evaluate the effect of the administration of corticosteroids on pregnant women with COVID-۱۹ on neonatal metabolic outcomes of hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Methods: The present retrospective cohort study was conducted on pregnant women with COVID-۱۹ referred to Mousavi Hospital in Zanjan, Iran in ۲۰۲۰. We compared post-delivery complications in women who had received corticosteroids with a control group. The data were extracted from the medical records of the patients by a resident of the gynecology. The chi-square test was used to compare the rate of hyperbilirubinemia and hypoglycemia between groups. Results: Of a total of ۷۱ investigated patients, only ۳۲ received non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs),. The mean age of the patients was ۲۹.۷۷±۶.۸۷ years and there was not a significant difference between the two groups in terms of age, BMI, education, blood sugar, bilirubin, neonate weight, and ۱ and ۵-minute Apgar score (P>۰.۰۵). In the corticosteroid-receiving group, a significantly higher rate of hypoglycemia (۳۷.۵% vs. ۷.۶۹%, P=۰.۰۰۲) and hyperbilirubinemia (۲۵% vs. ۵.۱۳%, P=۰.۰۲) was reported. Conclusion: The results suggested that the administration of corticosteroids as a treatment modality for pregnant women with COVID-۱۹ is associated with an increased rate of neonatal hypoglycemia and hyperbilirubinemia. Therefore, glycemic control is necessary for neonates born from pregnant women with COVID-۱۹ exposed to corticosteroids during the pregnancy.