biostudies-literatureUnknown12(10)Baravelli CM<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation and differences across social groups.<h4>Design</h4>Nationwide longitudinal prospective registry-based study.<h4>Setting</h4>Norway.<h4>Participants</h4>Female residents aged 15-50 years (n=1 244 560).<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Pregnancy-related inpatient, outpatient and primary care healthcare utilisation before the COVID-19 pandemic (prepandemic: 1 January to 11 March 2020), during the initial lockdown (first wave: 12 March to 3 April 2020), during the summer months of low restrictions (summer period: 4 April to 31 August 2020) and during the second wave to the end of the year (second wave: 1 September to 31 December 2020). Rates were compared with the same time periods in 2019.<h4>Results</h4>There were 130 924 inpatient specialist care admissions, 266 015 outpatient specialist care consultations and 2 309 047 primary care consultations with pregnancy-related diagnostic codes during 2019 and 2020. After adjusting for time trends and cofactors, inpatient admissions were reduced by 9% (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR)=0.91, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.95), outpatient consultations by 17% (aIRR=0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.86) and primary care consultations by 10% (aIRR=0.90, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.91) during the first wave. Inpatient care remained 3%-4% below prepandemic levels throughout 2020. Reductions according to education, income and immigrant background were also observed. Notably, women born in Asia, Africa or Latin America had a greater reduction in inpatient (aIRR=0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.97) and outpatient (aIRR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.95) care during the first wave, compared with Norwegian-born women. We also observed that women with low education had a greater reduction in inpatient care during summer period (aIRR=0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.92), compared with women with high educational attainment.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Following the introduction of COVID-19 mitigation measures in Norway in March 2020, there were substantial reductions in pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation, especially during the initial lockdown and among women with an immigrant background.BMJ opene064118https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9577276biostudies-literatureImpact of COVID-19 on pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation: a prospective nationwide registry study.PMC9577276Kinge JMOakley LHaberg SETelle KMacsali FBaravelli CMMagnus MCfalseImpact of COVID-19 on pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation: a prospective nationwide registry study.<h4>Objective</h4>To assess the impact of COVID-19 on pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation and differences across social groups.<h4>Design</h4>Nationwide longitudinal prospective registry-based study.<h4>Setting</h4>Norway.<h4>Participants</h4>Female residents aged 15-50 years (n=1 244 560).<h4>Main outcome measures</h4>Pregnancy-related inpatient, outpatient and primary care healthcare utilisation before the COVID-19 pandemic (prepandemic: 1 January to 11 March 2020), during the initial lockdown (first wave: 12 March to 3 April 2020), during the summer months of low restrictions (summer period: 4 April to 31 August 2020) and during the second wave to the end of the year (second wave: 1 September to 31 December 2020). Rates were compared with the same time periods in 2019.<h4>Results</h4>There were 130 924 inpatient specialist care admissions, 266 015 outpatient specialist care consultations and 2 309 047 primary care consultations with pregnancy-related diagnostic codes during 2019 and 2020. After adjusting for time trends and cofactors, inpatient admissions were reduced by 9% (adjusted incidence rate ratio (aIRR)=0.91, 95% CI 0.87 to 0.95), outpatient consultations by 17% (aIRR=0.83, 95% CI 0.71 to 0.86) and primary care consultations by 10% (aIRR=0.90, 95% CI 0.89 to 0.91) during the first wave. Inpatient care remained 3%-4% below prepandemic levels throughout 2020. Reductions according to education, income and immigrant background were also observed. Notably, women born in Asia, Africa or Latin America had a greater reduction in inpatient (aIRR=0.87, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.97) and outpatient (aIRR 0.90, 95% CI 0.86 to 0.95) care during the first wave, compared with Norwegian-born women. We also observed that women with low education had a greater reduction in inpatient care during summer period (aIRR=0.88, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.92), compared with women with high educational attainment.<h4>Conclusion</h4>Following the introduction of COVID-19 mitigation measures in Norway in March 2020, there were substantial reductions in pregnancy-related healthcare utilisation, especially during the initial lockdown and among women with an immigrant background.2022-01-01T00:00:00Z2022 Oct2024-12-04T09:41:42.913Z2024-12-04T09:41:42.913ZS-EPMC95772763625304410.1136/bmjopen-2022-064118