Danish premature birth rates during the COVID-19 lockdown

To explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on premature birth rates in Denmark, a nationwide register-based prevalence proportion study was conducted on all 31 180 live singleton infants born in Denmark between 12 March and 14 April during 2015–2020.The distribution of gestational ages (GAs) was sig...

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Published inArchives of disease in childhood. Fetal and neonatal edition Vol. 106; no. 1; pp. 93 - 95
Main Authors Hedermann, Gitte, Hedley, Paula Louise, Bækvad-Hansen, Marie, Hjalgrim, Henrik, Rostgaard, Klaus, Poorisrisak, Porntiva, Breindahl, Morten, Melbye, Mads, Hougaard, David M, Christiansen, Michael, Lausten-Thomsen, Ulrik
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published England BMJ Publishing Group LTD 01.01.2021
BMJ Publishing Group
Subjects
Birth rate
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - epidemiology
Denmark - epidemiology
Disease transmission
Epidemiology
Gestational age
Humans
Hygiene
Infant, Extremely Premature
Infant, Newborn
Mortality
Obstetrics
Pandemics
Pediatrics
Pregnancy
Premature birth
Premature Birth - epidemiology
Prevalence
Risk factors
SARS-CoV-2
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
Shelter in place
Short Report
Social Isolation
Sociodemographics
Denmark
epidemiology
neonatology
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Summary:To explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on premature birth rates in Denmark, a nationwide register-based prevalence proportion study was conducted on all 31 180 live singleton infants born in Denmark between 12 March and 14 April during 2015–2020.The distribution of gestational ages (GAs) was significantly different (p=0.004) during the lockdown period compared with the previous 5 years and was driven by a significantly lower rate of extremely premature children during the lockdown compared with the corresponding mean rate for the same dates in the previous years (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.40, p<0.001). No significant difference between the lockdown and previous years was found for other GA categories.The reasons for this decrease are unclear. However, the lockdown has provided a unique opportunity to examine possible factors related to prematurity. Identification of possible causal mechanisms might stimulate changes in clinical practice.
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GH and PLH are joint first authors.
MC and UL-T are joint senior authors.
ISSN:1359-2998
1468-2052
DOI:10.1136/archdischild-2020-319990