Changes in preterm birth during the COVID-19 pandemic by duration of exposure and race and ethnicity.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

We aimed to determine whether coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic exposure duration was associated with PTB and if the pandemic modified racial disparities.

Study design

We analyzed Philadelphia births and replicated in New Haven. Compared to matched months in two prior years, we analyzed overall PTB, specific PTB phenotypes, and stillbirth.

Results

Overall, PTB was similar between periods with the following exceptions. Compared to pre-pandemic, early pregnancy (<14 weeks') pandemic exposure was associated with lower risk of PTB < 28 weeks' (aRR 0.60 [0.30-1.10]) and later exposure with higher risk (aRR 1.77 [0.78-3.97]) (interaction p = 0.04). PTB < 32 weeks' among White patients decreased during the pandemic, resulting in non-significant

SUBMITTER: Mullin AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9379882 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature