A large retrospective cohort study found that pregnant individuals infected with SARS–CoV-2 had a lower risk of developing long COVID compared to nonpregnant individuals. Researchers identified high incidence of long COVID among pregnant individuals, but their risk was lower than that of matched nonpregnant individuals. Several subgroups among pregnant individuals had higher long COVID risk, and vaccination status did not appear to affect absolute long COVID risk in the pregnant population. Multiple long COVID definitions consistently showed that pregnant individuals experienced lower long COVID risk than matched nonpregnant individuals. The study's implications suggest the need for further research into immune mechanisms potentially protecting pregnant individuals from long COVID.

Source: Nature Communications