Pregnant women who contract COVID could experience long COVID symptoms study finds

SALT LAKE CITY —  With a spike in COVID cases this summer, pregnant women should be taking extra precautions to avoid it.

Not only does COVID increase chances of hospitalization and death in pregnant women, but a new U OF U study explains that 1 in 10 women who contract COVID during pregnancy will experience long COVID symptoms.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, long COVID refers to a chronic condition that can affect a person after COVID-19 and can last for up to 3 months. 

Doctor Torri Metz, a high-risk obstetrician, said pregnant women should be taking extra precautions to avoid serious complications during and after their pregnancies since the immune response is different during pregnancy.

The more severe the first COVID case, the more likely they will face long COVID effects, Metz explained. 

“Anytime people are pregnant with any sort of respiratory virus. they are at higher risk for more severe infection. You know it would be good to avoid people that you know are sick,” Metz said. 

The more severe the first COVID case, the more likely they will face long COVID effects, Metz explained. Utah has a high population of pregnant women according to Metz, which could create long-term effects on more of our population. As a result, long COVID could affect more Utahns than other areas in the country.

“It’s going to impact a significant amount of the population,” Metz said. “And, as you know in Utah, with higher birthrates that is potentially even a higher proportion of the population.” As a result, long COVID could affect more Utahns than other areas in the country.

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