Lack of changes in preterm delivery and stillbirths during COVID-19 lockdown in a European region
Por:
Arnaez J, Ochoa-Sangrador C, Caserío S, Gutiérrez EP, Jiménez MDP, Castañón L, Benito M, Peña A, Hernández N, Hortelano M, Schuffelmann S, Prada MT, Diego P, Villagómez FJ and García-Alix A
Publicada:
1 jun 2021
Ahead of Print:
1 feb 2021
Resumen:
Preliminary data in Europe have suggested a reduction in prematurity rates during the COVID-19 pandemic, implying that contingency measures could have an impact on prematurity rates. We designed a population-based prevalence proportion study to explore the potential link between national lockdown measures and a change in preterm births and stillbirths. Adjusted multivariate analyses did not show any decrease in preterm proportions during the lockdown period with respect to the whole prelockdown period or to the prelockdown comparison periods (2015-2019): 6.5% (95%CI 5.6-7.4), 6.6% (95%CI 6.5-6.8), and 6.2% (95%CI 5.7-6.7), respectively. Proportions of preterm live births did not change during lockdown when different gestational age categories were analyzed, nor when birthweight categories were considered. No differences in stillbirth rates among the different study periods were found: 0.33% (95%CI 0.04-0.61) during the lockdown period vs. 0.34% (95%CI 0.22-0.46) during the prelockdown comparison period (2015-2019).
Conclusion: We did not find any link between prematurity and lockdown, nor between stillbirths and lockdown. Collaborative efforts are desirable to gather more data and additional evidence on this global health issue.
What is Known:
center dot Prematurity is associated with increased risk of morbidity and mortality.
center dot Contingency measures during the COVID-19 pandemic may have an impact on reducing prematurity rates.
What is New:
center dot Prematurity and stillbirth rates remained stable in Castilla-y-Leon, a Spanish region, during COVID-19 lockdown.
center dot The role of behavioral patterns and sociocultural factors in the prevention of preterm birth as a result of lockdown measures remains a subject for debate.
Filiaciones:
Arnaez J:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Burgos, Burgos, Spain.
NeNe Foundation, Madrid, Spain.
Ochoa-Sangrador C:
Departamento de Pediatría, Complejo Asistencial de Zamora, Zamora, Spain
Caserío S:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Hospital Universitario Rio Hortega de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Gutiérrez EP:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
Jiménez MDP:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Complejo Asistencial de Ávila, Ávila, Spain
Castañón L:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Complejo Asistencial Universitario de León, León, Spain
Benito M:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Hospital Clínico Universitario de Valladolid, Valladolid, Spain
Peña A:
Departamento de Pediatría, Complejo Asistencial de Soria, Soria, Spain
Hernández N:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Complejo Asistencial de Zamora, Zamora, Spain
Hortelano M:
Departamento de Pediatría (Neonatología), Complejo Asistencial de Segovia, Segovia, Spain
Schuffelmann S:
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Santos Reyes, Aranda de Duero, Spain
Prada MT:
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital El Bierzo, Ponferrada, Spain
Diego P:
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Santiago Apóstol, Miranda de Ebro, Spain
Villagómez FJ:
Departamento de Pediatría, Complejo Asistencial de Palencia, Palencia, Spain
García-Alix A:
NeNe Foundation, Madrid, Spain
Institut de Recerca Pediàtrica, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
hybrid, Green Submitted, Green Published
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