Table 1.
Studies examining the association between COVID-19 lockdown and premature births and low birth weight rates
| Study Ref. | Design | Country | Data Source | Study Period | Pregnancy type | Before Lockdown Period | During Lockdown Period | Effect | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Definition | Rate/ 1000 live births | p-value and/or (95% CI) | Definition | Rate/ 1000 live births | p-value and/or (95% CI) | OR or RR | p-value and/or (95% CI) | % Decrease/Increase | ||||||
| Cohort studies | ||||||||||||||
| Ashish et al. (2020) | Cohort | Nepal | SUSTAIN1and REFINE1 studies | Jan 1-May 30, 2020 | Singletons | < 37 weeks1 | 167 | < 0.0001 (0.160, 0.174) | < 37 weeks | 200 | < 0.0001 (0.178, 0204) | aRR = 1.3 | 0.0016 (1.2, 1.4) | 16.5% increase |
| < 2500 g1 | 111 | N/A | < 2500 g | 105 | N/A | N/A | 0.37 | 0.1% NS decrease | ||||||
| Been (2020) [9] | Quasi experimental | The Netherlands | Praeventis (RIVM) | Oct 9, 2010-Jul 16, 2020 | Singletons |
< 37 weeks +/− 2 months from Mar 91 |
N/R | N/R |
< 37 weeks +/− 2 months from Mar 9 |
N/R | N/R | OR = 0.77 | 0.002 (0.66, 0.91) | Decrease |
|
< 37 weeks +/− 3 months from Mar 91 |
N/R | N/R |
< 37 weeks +/− 3 months from Mar 9 |
N/R | N/R | OR = 0.85 | 0.028 (0.73, 0.98) | Decrease | ||||||
|
< 37 weeks +/− 4 months from Mar 91 |
N/R | N/R |
< 37 weeks +/− 4 months from Mar 9 |
N/R | N/R | OR = 0.84 | 0.023 (0.73, 0.97) | Decrease | ||||||
|
< 37 weeks +/− 4 months from Mar 15 |
N/R | N/R |
< 37 weeks +/− 4 months from Mar 15 |
N/R | N/R | OR = 0.96 | (0.83–1.10) | NS decrease | ||||||
|
< 37 weeks +/− 4 months from Mar 23 |
N/R | N/R |
< 37 weeks +/− 4 months from Mar 23 |
N/R | N/R | OR = 1.03 | (0.90–1.18) | NSincrease | ||||||
| Hedermann et al. (2020) | Cohort | Denmark | National Screening Biobank (DNSB) | Mar 12-Apr 14, 2015–2020 | Singletons | < 28 weeks | 2.19 | 0.003 | < 28 weeks | 0.19 | < 0.001 | OR = 0.09 | < 0.001 (0.01, 0.40) | 90.0% decrease |
| 28–31 weeks | 5.57 | N/A | 28–31 weeks | 6.62 | N/A | OR = 1.11 | 0.589 (0.75, 1.61) | 15.9% NS increase | ||||||
| 32–36 weeks | 42.8 | N/A | 32–36 weeks | 41.84 | N/A | OR = 0.98 | 0.742 (0.84, 1.13) | 2% NS decrease | ||||||
| Khalil et al. (2020) [10] | Cohort | United Kingdom | St. George’s University Hospital | Oct 1-Jun 21, 2019–2020 | Singletons, Twins & Triplets | < 37 weeks | 68 | N/A | < 37 weeks | 76 | N/A | cOR = 1.11 | 0.46 (−2.43, 1.07) | 10.5% NS increase |
| < 34 weeks | 25 | N/A | < 34 weeks | 37 | N/A | cOR = 1.46 | 0.07 (−0.05, 2.30) | 32.4% NS increase | ||||||
| Philip et al. (2020) [11] | Cohort | Ireland |
UMHL1 VON1 CSO1 |
Jan 1-Apr 31, 2001–2020 | Singletons & Multiple births | < 1500 g1 | 8.18 | (7.21, 9.29) | < 1500 g | 2.17 | 0.022 (1.21, 11.75) | Rate ratio = 3.77 | 0.022 (1.21, 11.75) | 73.5% decrease |
| < 1000 g1 | 2.17 | (2.43, 3.70) | < 1000 g | 0 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 100% NS decrease | ||||||
| Matheson et al. (2021) [12, 13] | Cohort | Australia | 3 maternity hospitals |
July-Sep 2019–2020 |
Singleton and multiple | < 37 weeks | 101 | N/A | < 37 weeks | 83 | N/A | OR = 0.81 | (0.67–0.98) | Decrease |
| < 34 weeks | 36 | N/A | < 34 weeks | 26 | N/A | OR = 0.71 | (0.51–0.98) | Decrease | ||||||
| < 28 weeks | 8 | N/A | < 28 weeks | 4 | N/A | OR = 0.46 | (0.21–0.99) | Decrease | ||||||
| De Curtis et al. (2020) [14] | Cohort | Italy | Lazio (nationwide) | Mar-May 2019–2020 | Singletons | < 32 weeks | 5.5 | N/A | < 32 weeks | 7.9 | N/A | N/A | 0.06 | NS increase |
| 32–36 weeks | 59.3 | N/A | 32–36 weeks | 46.2 | N/A | N/A | < 0.001 | Decrease | ||||||
| Justman et al. (2020) [15] | Cross sectional | Israel | Tertiary center | Mar-Apr 2019–2020 | Singleton and multiple | < 37 weeks | 65 | N/A | < 37 weeks | 64 | N/A | N/A | 0.96 | NS decrease |
| Caniglia et al. (2021) [16] | Cohort | Botswana | Tsepamo study |
Jan1-July20 2019–2020 |
Singletons | < 32 weeks | −0.21% | (−0.67, 0.25%) | < 32 weeks |
−0.47% (% reduction) |
(−1.15, 0.21%) |
−0.26% (% reduction) |
(−0.80, 0.27%) | NS decrease |
| < 37 weeks | 0.25% | (−0.66%,1.15%) | < 37 weeks |
−1.27% (% reduction) |
−2.71%,0.1%) |
−1.52% (% reduction) |
(−3.14, 0.10%) | NS decrease | ||||||
| Arnaez et al. (2021) [17] | Retrospective | Spain | 13 hospitals of the Castilla-y-Léon region | Jan 1-June 21, 2015–2020 | Singletons | 32–36 weeks | 57.4 | (5.56–5.92) | 32–36 weeks | 56.6 | (4.83–6.48) | N/A | N/A | NS decrease |
| 28–31 weeks | 6 | (0.54–0.66) | 28–31 weeks | 4.7 | (0.22–0.71) | N/A | N/A | NS decrease | ||||||
| 23–27 weeks | 2.8 | (0.24–0.32) | 23–27 weeks | 3.7 | (0.15–0.58) | OR = 1.38 | 0.0438(0.61–3.12) | Increase | ||||||
| < 1500 g | 9.8 | (0.91–0.105) | < 1500 g | 9.8 | (0.63–1.33) | N/A | N/A | NS change | ||||||
| < 1000 g | 3.4 | (0.29–0.38) | < 1000 g | 4.6 | (0.22–0.70) | OR = 1.19 | 0.724(0.44–3.23) | NS increase | ||||||
| Huseynova et al. (2021) [18] | Cross sectional | Saudi Arabia | Public Sector Children Hospital - King Saud Medical City (KSMC) | Mar 1- June 30, 2017–2020 | Singleton and multiple | < 28 weeks | 19.87 | N/A | < 28 weeks | 13 | N/A | RR = 63.8% | 0.047 | 36.2% decrease |
| 28–31 weeks | 29.13 | N/A | 28–31 weeks | 31.2 | N/A | RR = 101.20% | 0.398 | NS increase | ||||||
| 32–36 weeks | 144.13 | N/A | 32–36 weeks | 106.6 | N/A | RR = 73.66% | 0.0004 | 26.34% decrease | ||||||
| Kirchengast et al. (2021) [19] | Retrospective medical record-based single-centre | Austria | Viennese Danube Hospital and Statistics Austria | Jan 1- July 31, 2017–2020 | Singleton | < 1000 g | 7.2 | N/A | < 1000 g | 2.9 | N/A | OR = 2.48 | 0.35–17.50 | Decrease |
| < 1500 g | 18 | N/A | < 1500 g | 8.9 | N/A | OR = 2.05 | 0.63–6.67 | Decrease | ||||||
| 1500-2500 g | 54.2 | N/A | 1500-2500 g | 38.9 | N/A | OR = 1.41 | 0.76–2.62 | Decrease | ||||||
| < 32 weeks | 28.9 | N/A | < 32 weeks | 14.9 | N/A | OR = 1.93 | (0.76–4.79) | Decrease | ||||||
| 32–36 weeks | 54.2 | N/A | 32–36 weeks | 62.9 | N/A | OR = 1.01 | (0.97–1.05) | Increase | ||||||
| Gallo et al. (2021) | Retrospective | Australia | Mater Mothers’ electronic healthcare records database | March 16–May 1, 2013–2020 | Singletons | 23–27 weeks | 6.70 | N/A | 23–27 weeks | 8.35 | N/A | aOR = 1.21 | (0.69–4.20) | NS increase |
| 28–31 weeks | 10.46 | N/A | 28–31 weeks | 5.97 | N/A | aOR = 0.55 | (0.22–1.75) | NS decrease | ||||||
| 32–26 weeks | 59.51 | N/A | 32–26 weeks | 34.61 | N/A | aOR = 0.57 | (0.35–0.80) | Decrease | ||||||
1ISRCTN18148368