Increasing Preterm Delivery and Small for Gestational Age Trends in South Carolina during the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
; 21(4)2024 Apr 10.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-38673376
ABSTRACT
Preterm delivery (PTD) complications are a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality. We aimed to assess trends in PTD and small for gestational age (SGA) and whether trends varied between race-ethnic groups in South Carolina (SC). We utilized 2015-2021 SC vital records linked to hospitalization and emergency department records. PTD was defined as clinically estimated gestation less than (<) 37 weeks (wks.) with subgroup analyses of PTD < 34 wks. and < 28 wks. SGA was defined as infants weighing below the 10th percentile for gestational age. This retrospective study included 338,532 (243,010 before the COVID-19 pandemic and 95,522 during the pandemic) live singleton births of gestational age ≥ 20 wks. born to 260,276 mothers in SC. Generalized estimating equations and a change-point during the first quarter of 2020 helped to assess trends. In unadjusted analyses, pre-pandemic PTD showed an increasing trend that continued during the pandemic (relative risk (RR) = 1.04, 95% CI 1.02-1.06). PTD < 34 wks. rose during the pandemic (RR = 1.07, 95% CI 1.02-1.12) with a significant change in the slope. Trends in SGA varied by race and ethnicity, increasing only in Hispanics (RR = 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.04) before the pandemic. Our study reveals an increasing prevalence of PTD and a rise in PTD < 34 wks. during the pandemic, as well as an increasing prevalence of SGA in Hispanics during the study period.
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Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Recém-Nascido Pequeno para a Idade Gestacional
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Nascimento Prematuro
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COVID-19
Idioma:
En
Ano de publicação:
2024
Tipo de documento:
Article