. 2024 Jul;44(7):1050-1057.

doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01898-3. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Social distancing and extremely preterm births in the initial COVID-19 pandemic period

Vivek V Shukla¹, Benjamin A Carper², Namasivayam Ambalavanan³, Matthew A Rysavy⁴, Edward F Bell⁵, Abhik Das⁶, Ravi M Patel⁷, Carl T D'Angio⁸, Kristi L Watterberg⁹, C Michael Cotten¹⁰, Stephanie L Merhar¹¹, Myra H Wyckoff¹², Pablo J Sánchez¹³, Neha Kumbhat¹⁴, Waldemar A Carlo³; Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network

Collaborators, Affiliations

Collaborators

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network:
Richard A Polin, Abbot R Laptook, Martin Keszler, Angelita M Hensman, Elisa Vieira, Lucille St Pierre, Anna Maria Hibbs, Michele C Walsh, Nancy S Newman, Sarah Smucney, Arlene Zadell, Brenda B Poindexter, Kurt Schibler, Cathy Grisby, Kristin Kirker, Sandra Wuertz, Juanita Dudley, Traci Beiersdorfer, Julia Thompson, Ronald N Goldberg, Joanne Finkle, Kimberley A Fisher, Matthew M Laughon, Gennie Bose, Cindy Clark, Stephen D Kicklighter, Donna White, David P Carlton, Yvonne Loggins, Judith Laursen, Colleen Mackie, Diane I Bottcher, Andrew A Bremer, Rosemary D Higgins, Stephanie Wilson Archer, Jon E Tyson, Amir M Khan, Barbara J Stoll, Gabriela Dominguez, Elizabeth Eason, Donna J Hall, Apoorva Mahatme, Karen Martin, Ilse Reyna, Emily K Stephens, Jaleesa Wade, Michelle White, Leif D Nelin, Sudarshan R Jadcherla, Jonathan L Slaughter, Patricia Luzader, Jacqueline McCool, Kyrstin Warnimont, Jessica Purnell, Kristi Small, Melanie Stein, Rox Ann Sullivan, Laura Marzac, Hallie Baugher, Eli Zettler, Bethany Miller, Demi R Beckford, Brittany DeSantis, Rachel Reedy, Marie G Gantz, Carla M Bann, Kristin M Zaterka-Baxter, Jenna Gabrio, David Leblond, Jeanette O'Donnell Auman, Krisa P Van Meurs, David K Stevenson, Valerie Y Chock, M Bethany Ball, Barbara P Recine, Elizabeth N Reichert, Monica V Collins, Shirley S Cosby, Tarah T Colaizy, Heidi M Harmon, Michelle L Baack, Laurie A Hogden, Karen J Johnson, Mendi L Schmelzel, Jacky R Walker, Claire A Goeke, Sarah E Faruqui, Brenda J Coulter, Bailey M Schrimper, Syndney S Jellison, Chelsey Elenkiwich, Megan M Henning, Megan Broadbent, Sarah Van Muyden, Janell Fuller, Robin K Ohls, Sandra Sundquist Beauman, Conra Backstrom Lacy, Mary Hanson, Elizabeth Kuan, Sara B DeMauro, Eric C Eichenwald, Soraya Abbasi, Christine Catts, Aasma S Chaudhary, Megan A Dhawan, Sarvin Ghavam, Toni Mancini, Karen M Puopolo, Jonathan Snyder, Ronnie Guillet, Anne Marie Reynolds, Satyan Lakshminrusimha, Michael G Sacilowski, Mary Rowan, Rosemary Jensen, Rachel Jones, Alison Kent, Diane Prinzing, Ann Marie Scorsone, Kyle Binion, Stephanie Guilford, Constance Orme, Premini Sabaratnam, Daisy Rochez, Emily Li, Jennifer Donato, Luc P Brion, Joanne Duran, Frances Eubanks, Michelle Harrod, Pollieanna Sepulvida, Diana M Vasil, Bradley A Yoder, Mariana Baserga, Stephen D Minton, Mark J Sheffield, Carrie A Rau, Susan Christensen, Kathleen Coleman, Jennifer O Elmont, Barbara L Francom, Jamie Jordan, Manndi C Loertscher, Trisha Marchant, Earl Maxson, Kandace McGrath, Hena G Mickelsen, D Melody Parry, Katherine Tice, Kimberlee Weaver-Lewis, Kathryn D Woodbury

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. vshukla@uabmc.edu.
² Social, Statistical, and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
³ Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁶ Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Rockville, MD, USA.
⁷ Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁸ University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
⁹ University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
¹¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
¹² Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
¹³ Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

PMID: 38388715
PMCID: PMC11226398
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01898-3

Social distancing and extremely preterm births in the initial COVID-19 pandemic period

Vivek V Shukla et al. J Perinatol. 2024 Jul.

. 2024 Jul;44(7):1050-1057.

doi: 10.1038/s41372-024-01898-3. Epub 2024 Feb 22.

Authors

Collaborators

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Neonatal Research Network:
Richard A Polin, Abbot R Laptook, Martin Keszler, Angelita M Hensman, Elisa Vieira, Lucille St Pierre, Anna Maria Hibbs, Michele C Walsh, Nancy S Newman, Sarah Smucney, Arlene Zadell, Brenda B Poindexter, Kurt Schibler, Cathy Grisby, Kristin Kirker, Sandra Wuertz, Juanita Dudley, Traci Beiersdorfer, Julia Thompson, Ronald N Goldberg, Joanne Finkle, Kimberley A Fisher, Matthew M Laughon, Gennie Bose, Cindy Clark, Stephen D Kicklighter, Donna White, David P Carlton, Yvonne Loggins, Judith Laursen, Colleen Mackie, Diane I Bottcher, Andrew A Bremer, Rosemary D Higgins, Stephanie Wilson Archer, Jon E Tyson, Amir M Khan, Barbara J Stoll, Gabriela Dominguez, Elizabeth Eason, Donna J Hall, Apoorva Mahatme, Karen Martin, Ilse Reyna, Emily K Stephens, Jaleesa Wade, Michelle White, Leif D Nelin, Sudarshan R Jadcherla, Jonathan L Slaughter, Patricia Luzader, Jacqueline McCool, Kyrstin Warnimont, Jessica Purnell, Kristi Small, Melanie Stein, Rox Ann Sullivan, Laura Marzac, Hallie Baugher, Eli Zettler, Bethany Miller, Demi R Beckford, Brittany DeSantis, Rachel Reedy, Marie G Gantz, Carla M Bann, Kristin M Zaterka-Baxter, Jenna Gabrio, David Leblond, Jeanette O'Donnell Auman, Krisa P Van Meurs, David K Stevenson, Valerie Y Chock, M Bethany Ball, Barbara P Recine, Elizabeth N Reichert, Monica V Collins, Shirley S Cosby, Tarah T Colaizy, Heidi M Harmon, Michelle L Baack, Laurie A Hogden, Karen J Johnson, Mendi L Schmelzel, Jacky R Walker, Claire A Goeke, Sarah E Faruqui, Brenda J Coulter, Bailey M Schrimper, Syndney S Jellison, Chelsey Elenkiwich, Megan M Henning, Megan Broadbent, Sarah Van Muyden, Janell Fuller, Robin K Ohls, Sandra Sundquist Beauman, Conra Backstrom Lacy, Mary Hanson, Elizabeth Kuan, Sara B DeMauro, Eric C Eichenwald, Soraya Abbasi, Christine Catts, Aasma S Chaudhary, Megan A Dhawan, Sarvin Ghavam, Toni Mancini, Karen M Puopolo, Jonathan Snyder, Ronnie Guillet, Anne Marie Reynolds, Satyan Lakshminrusimha, Michael G Sacilowski, Mary Rowan, Rosemary Jensen, Rachel Jones, Alison Kent, Diane Prinzing, Ann Marie Scorsone, Kyle Binion, Stephanie Guilford, Constance Orme, Premini Sabaratnam, Daisy Rochez, Emily Li, Jennifer Donato, Luc P Brion, Joanne Duran, Frances Eubanks, Michelle Harrod, Pollieanna Sepulvida, Diana M Vasil, Bradley A Yoder, Mariana Baserga, Stephen D Minton, Mark J Sheffield, Carrie A Rau, Susan Christensen, Kathleen Coleman, Jennifer O Elmont, Barbara L Francom, Jamie Jordan, Manndi C Loertscher, Trisha Marchant, Earl Maxson, Kandace McGrath, Hena G Mickelsen, D Melody Parry, Katherine Tice, Kimberlee Weaver-Lewis, Kathryn D Woodbury

Affiliations

¹ Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA. vshukla@uabmc.edu.
² Social, Statistical, and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
³ Division of Neonatology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX, USA.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
⁶ Social, Statistical and Environmental Sciences Unit, RTI International, Rockville, MD, USA.
⁷ Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA, USA.
⁸ University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY, USA.
⁹ University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA.
¹⁰ Department of Pediatrics, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA.
¹¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
¹² Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
¹³ Department of Pediatrics, Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH, USA.
¹⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal and Developmental Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto, CA, USA.

PMID: 38388715
PMCID: PMC11226398
DOI: 10.1038/s41372-024-01898-3

Abstract

Hypothesis: Increased social distancing was associated with a lower incidence of extremely preterm live births (EPLB) during the initial COVID-19 pandemic period.

Study design: Prospective study at the NICHD Neonatal Research Network sites comparing EPLB (22^0/7-28^6/7 weeks) and extremely preterm intrapartum stillbirths (EPIS) rates during the pandemic period (March-July, weeks 9-30 of 2020) with the reference period (same weeks in 2018 and 2019), correlating with state-specific social distancing index (SDI).

Results: EPLB and EPIS percentages did not significantly decrease (1.58-1.45%, p = 0.07, and 0.08-0.06%, p = 0.14, respectively). SDI was not significantly correlated with percent change of EPLB (CC = 0.29, 95% CI = -0.12, 0.71) or EPIS (CC = -0.23, 95% CI = -0.65, 0.18). Percent change in mean gestational age was positively correlated with SDI (CC = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.07, 0.91).

Conclusions: Increased social distancing was not associated with change in incidence of EPLB but was associated with a higher gestational age of extremely preterm births.

Gov id: Generic Database: NCT00063063.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1. Correlation of social distancing index with percent change in extremely preterm live births and intrapartum stillbirths.**
The percent change from reference period ((pandemic – reference)/reference*100) was calculated using the weekly rates of EPLB and EPIS. The social distancing index was not significantly correlated with the percent change of extremely preterm live births (CC = 0.29, 95% CI = −0.12, 0.71) and intrapartum stillbirths (CC = −0.23, 95% CI = −0.65, 0.18). Reference period: calendar weeks 9–30 of 2018 and 2019 pandemic period: calendar weeks 9–30 of 2020.

**Fig. 2. Correlation of social distancing index with percent change in extremely preterm birth gestational age.**
The percent change from reference period ((pandemic – reference)/reference*100) was calculated using the weekly average gestational age. The social distancing index was positively correlated with extremely preterm birth gestational age (CC = 0.49, 95% CI = 0.07, 0.91). Reference period: calendar weeks 9–30 of 2018 and 2019 pandemic period: calendar weeks 9–30 of 2020.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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Social distancing and extremely preterm births in the initial COVID-19 pandemic period

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Affiliations

Social distancing and extremely preterm births in the initial COVID-19 pandemic period

Authors

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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References

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