No significant changes in preterm birth, low‐birth‐weight, and small‐for‐gestational‐age infants during the first year of the <scp>COVID</scp>‐19 pandemic in a rural area in Japan

Maki, Yuji; Tokuda, Atsuko; Kino, Emi; Yamauchi, Aya; Ohtsuka, Teruo; Terao, Kiminari

doi:10.1111/jog.15446

Cited by 4 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…However, the results are still contradictory in Japan. Ohashi et al 17 analyzed data from an epidemiological receipt database and showed an increasing trend of HDP but with no significant difference, similar to our findings; in contrast, other studies detected a reduction in HDP 13 – 15 . Few previous studies have assessed the impact of FGR in Japan.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

“…However, few studies have reported the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy outcomes in Japan. Maki et al 13 analyzed the rates of preterm delivery, low birth weight (LBW) infants, and small-for-gestational-age infants during the first year of the pandemic compared to those in the preceding 3 years and found no significant changes. However, the results were limited to a local area in Japan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Maternal deaths have also increased in low-and middle-income countries 11,12 .However, few studies have reported the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy outcomes in Japan. Maki et al 13 analyzed the rates of preterm delivery, low birth weight (LBW) infants, and small-for-gestational-age…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan: a large-scale nationwide population-based longitudinal study

Abe,

Uchiyama,

Takaoka

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

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The impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on pregnancy outcomes in Japan at the national level is unclear. This study aimed to assess the impact of the pandemic on pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan using nationwide population-based longitudinal data. Secondary data from the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology from 2016 to 2020 were analyzed. Obstetric information, pregnancy complications, and delivery information of pregnant women over 22 weeks of gestation were compared before and during the pandemic. The trends of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy, fetal growth restriction, and APGAR < 7 increased, whereas those of preterm birth and low birth weight decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes have worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan. Social changes caused by unprecedented situations may have massively influenced pregnancy in several ways. Our findings suggest that even in mild lockdowns like those in Japan, the introduction of social fear during the pandemic might negatively impact pregnancy outcomes.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 87%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan: a large-scale nationwide population-based longitudinal study

Abe,

Uchiyama,

Takaoka

et al. 2023

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In addition, there are some studies that investigated trends in adverse birth outcomes and fetal mortality over the decades in Japan using national data [ 5 , 6 , 17 ], while such studies did not evaluate the effect of the pandemic. Moreover, there are some studies that investigated an effect of the pandemic on adverse birth outcomes or threatened preterm labor in Japan [ 18 – 23 ]. In contrast, the sample size used in each study was relatively small, and it is meaningful to evaluate an effect of the pandemic on the adverse outcomes using nationwide national data in Japan.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of adverse birth outcomes and fetal mortality in Japan: an analysis of national data from 2010 to 2022

Okui,

Nakashima

2024

BMC Public Health

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Background Although the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic affected trends of multiple health outcomes in Japan, there is a paucity of studies investigating the effect of the pandemic on adverse birth outcomes and fetal mortality. This study aimed to investigate the effect of the onset of the pandemic on the trends in adverse birth outcomes and fetal mortality using national data in Japan. Methods We used the 2010–2022 birth and fetal mortality data from the Vital Statistics in Japan. We defined the starting time of the effect of the pandemic as April 2020, and the period from January 2010 to March 2020 and that from April 2020 to December 2022 were defined as the pre- and post- pandemic period, respectively. The rates of preterm birth, term low birth weight (TLBW), small-for-gestational-age (SGA), large-for-gestational-age (LGA), spontaneous fetal mortality, and artificial fetal mortality were used as outcomes. An interrupted time series analysis was conducted using monthly time series data of the outcomes to evaluate the effects of the pandemic. In addition, a modified Poisson regression model was used to evaluate the effects of the pandemic on these outcomes using individual-level data, and the adjusted risk ratio of the effect was calculated. Results The adverse birth and fetal mortality outcomes showed a decreasing trend over the years, except for preterm birth and LGA birth rates, and SGA birth rates tended to reach their lowest values after the onset of the pandemic. The interrupted time series analysis revealed that the pandemic decreased preterm birth, TLBW, and SGA birth rates. In addition, the regression analysis revealed that the pandemic decreased the TLBW, SGA, and artificial fetal mortality rates. Conclusions Analyses performed using national data suggested that the pandemic decreased the TLBW and SGA rates in Japan.

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“…Furthermore, only a limited number of studies indicated an overall increase in PTD [43,44]. Studies that included some 2021 data also reported an increase [45,46] or no significant changes in PTD [47] and SGA [48] compared to pre-pandemic rates within their respective populations.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increasing Preterm Delivery and Small for Gestational Age Trends in South Carolina during the COVID-19 Pandemic

Chundru,

Korte,

Wen

et al. 2024

IJERPH

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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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No significant changes in preterm birth, low‐birth‐weight, and small‐for‐gestational‐age infants during the first year of the COVID‐19 pandemic in a rural area in Japan

Abstract: Aims: To evaluate the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic's impact on pregnancy outcomes in a Japanese rural area.

Cited by 4 publications

References 29 publications

The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan: a large-scale nationwide population-based longitudinal study

The COVID-19 pandemic affects pregnancy complications and delivery outcomes in Japan: a large-scale nationwide population-based longitudinal study

Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the rates of adverse birth outcomes and fetal mortality in Japan: an analysis of national data from 2010 to 2022

Increasing Preterm Delivery and Small for Gestational Age Trends in South Carolina during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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