Hepatic dysfunction in individuals with COVID-19 and its impact on pregnancy outcomes

This study aimed to describe the incidence of abnormal liver function tests (LFTs) in pregnant women post-2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and investigate the characteristics of pregnant women with abnormal LFTs and its impact on pregnancy outcomes. The data for 168 pregnant women who were infected with COVID-19 in the late stages of pregnancy were collected in Hefei Maternal and Child Health Hospital from December 2022 to January 2023, and 86 pregnant women with abnormal liver function were divided into the research group and 82 pregnant women with normal liver function into the control group for retrospective analysis. Population and laboratory data were collected and statistical analysis was conducted. Among the 168 pregnant women with COVID-19, 86 (51.2%) had elevated liver enzymes. In the control group, 4 (4.5%) had elevated liver enzymes. Differences between the 2 groups were statistically significant (P < .05). Single-factor analysis revealed that age, gestational week, and body mass index (BMI) exhibited statistically significant differences (P < .001) as potential factors influencing abnormal LFTs. Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that age (OR: 1.526), gestational week (OR: 1.321), and BMI (OR: 1.159) remained independent risk factors for liver injury (P < .05). Furthermore, the cesarean section rate, postpartum hemorrhage rate, rupture of membranes rate, and fetal intrauterine distress rate in the observation group were all significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .05). Additionally, the incidence of neonatal asphyxia, preterm birth, and low birth weight in the observation group were all significantly higher than those in the control group (P < .05). Pregnant individuals are at an elevated risk of hepatic injury following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection. Furthermore, the likelihood of hepatic injury escalates with advancing maternal age, gestational age, and BMI. Hepatic functional aberrations in the latter stages of pregnancy may precipitate adverse pregnancy outcomes.