Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands

L. Burgos Ochoa; L. Bertens; N.W. Boderie; B.Y. Gravesteijn; S. Obermann; A. Rosman; Jeroen Struijs; Jeremy Labrecque; Christianne J. de Groot; Jasper Been; Elena Ambrosino; Kim Van den Auweele; Jasper Been; Roseriet Beijers; Loes Bertens; Kitty Bloemenkamp; Nienke Boderie; Lex Burdorf; Lizbeth Burgos Ochoa; Ank de Jonge; Caroline de Weerth; Arie Franx; Sam Harper; Brenda M. Kazemier; Peter Paul Klein; Daniëlle Kretz; Jeremy Labrecque; Ben Willem Mol; Jean Muris; Marianne Nieuwenhuijze; Sylvia Obermann; Martijn Oudijk; Lilian Peters; Lotte Ramerman; Anita Ravelli; Ageeth Schonewille- Rosman; Sam Schoenmakers; Jeroen Struijs; Hanneke Torij; Monique Van Beukering; Thomas van den Akker; Marion van den Heuvel; Jeroen van Dillen; Frank van Lenthe; Tom Van Ourti; Arnoud Verhoeff; Marijn Vermeulen; Nettie Visser; Saskia Willers

doi:10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002

Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands

L. Burgos Ochoa^*
, L. Bertens
, N.W. Boderie
, B.Y. Gravesteijn
, S. Obermann
, A. Rosman
, Jeroen Struijs
, Jeremy Labrecque
, Christianne J. de Groot
, Jasper Been
, Elena Ambrosino
, Kim Van den Auweele
, Jasper Been
, Roseriet Beijers
, Loes Bertens
, Kitty Bloemenkamp
, Nienke Boderie
, Lex Burdorf
, Lizbeth Burgos Ochoa
, Ank de Jonge

Caroline de Weerth, Arie Franx, Sam Harper, Brenda M. Kazemier, Peter Paul Klein, Daniëlle Kretz, Jeremy Labrecque, Ben Willem Mol, Jean Muris, Marianne Nieuwenhuijze, Sylvia Obermann, Martijn Oudijk, Lilian Peters, Lotte Ramerman, Anita Ravelli, Ageeth Schonewille- Rosman, Sam Schoenmakers, Jeroen Struijs, Hanneke Torij, Monique Van Beukering, Thomas van den Akker, Marion van den Heuvel, Jeroen van Dillen, Frank van Lenthe, Tom Van Ourti, Arnoud Verhoeff, Marijn Vermeulen, Nettie Visser, Saskia Willers

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Scientific › peer-review

Abstract

Objective:
Investigate the acute impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in March 2020 on a comprehensive range of perinatal outcomes.

Study design:
National registry-based quasi-experimental study.

Methods:
We obtained data from the Dutch Perinatal Registry (2010–2020) which was linked to multiple population registries containing sociodemographic variables. A difference-in-discontinuity approach was used to examine the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on various perinatal outcomes. We investigated preterm birth incidence across onset types, alongside other perinatal outcomes including low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, NICU admission, low-APGAR-score, perinatal mortality, neonatal death, and stillbirths.

Results:
The analysis of the national-level dataset revealed a consistent pattern of reduced preterm births after the enactment of COVID-19 mitigation measures on March 9, 2020 (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.68–0.96). A drop in spontaneous preterm births post-implementation was observed (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.62–0.98), whereas no change was observed for iatrogenic births. Regarding stillbirths (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.46–1.95) our analysis did not find compelling evidence of substantial changes. For the remaining outcomes, no discernible shifts were observed.

Conclusions:
Our findings confirm the reduction in preterm births following COVID-19 mitigation measures in the Netherlands. No discernible changes were observed for other outcomes, including stillbirths. Our results challenge previous concerns of a potential increase in stillbirths contributing to the drop in preterm births, suggesting alternative mechanisms.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	322-327
Number of pages	6
Journal	Public Health
Volume	236
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002
Publication status	Published - 2024

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

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Burgos Ochoa, L., Bertens, L., Boderie, N. W., Gravesteijn, B. Y., Obermann, S., Rosman, A., Struijs, J., Labrecque, J., de Groot, C. J., Been, J., Ambrosino, E., den Auweele, K. V., Been, J., Beijers, R., Bertens, L., Bloemenkamp, K., Boderie, N., Burdorf, L., Ochoa, L. B., ... Willers, S. (2024). Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands. Public Health, 236, 322-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002

@article{cac14fd49ddc40c1bd8e75aad9565aae,

title = "Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands",

abstract = "Objective: Investigate the acute impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in March 2020 on a comprehensive range of perinatal outcomes. Study design: National registry-based quasi-experimental study. Methods: We obtained data from the Dutch Perinatal Registry (2010{\textendash}2020) which was linked to multiple population registries containing sociodemographic variables. A difference-in-discontinuity approach was used to examine the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on various perinatal outcomes. We investigated preterm birth incidence across onset types, alongside other perinatal outcomes including low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, NICU admission, low-APGAR-score, perinatal mortality, neonatal death, and stillbirths. Results: The analysis of the national-level dataset revealed a consistent pattern of reduced preterm births after the enactment of COVID-19 mitigation measures on March 9, 2020 (OR = 0.80, 95\% CI 0.68{\textendash}0.96). A drop in spontaneous preterm births post-implementation was observed (OR = 0.80, 95\% CI 0.62{\textendash}0.98), whereas no change was observed for iatrogenic births. Regarding stillbirths (OR = 0.95, 95\% CI 0.46{\textendash}1.95) our analysis did not find compelling evidence of substantial changes. For the remaining outcomes, no discernible shifts were observed. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the reduction in preterm births following COVID-19 mitigation measures in the Netherlands. No discernible changes were observed for other outcomes, including stillbirths. Our results challenge previous concerns of a potential increase in stillbirths contributing to the drop in preterm births, suggesting alternative mechanisms.",

author = "\{Burgos Ochoa\}, L. and L. Bertens and N.W. Boderie and B.Y. Gravesteijn and S. Obermann and A. Rosman and Jeroen Struijs and Jeremy Labrecque and \{de Groot\}, \{Christianne J.\} and Jasper Been and Elena Ambrosino and \{den Auweele\}, \{Kim Van\} and Jasper Been and Roseriet Beijers and Loes Bertens and Kitty Bloemenkamp and Nienke Boderie and Lex Burdorf and Ochoa, \{Lizbeth Burgos\} and \{de Jonge\}, Ank and \{de Weerth\}, Caroline and Arie Franx and Sam Harper and Kazemier, \{Brenda M.\} and Klein, \{Peter Paul\} and Dani{\"e}lle Kretz and Jeremy Labrecque and Mol, \{Ben Willem\} and Jean Muris and Marianne Nieuwenhuijze and Sylvia Obermann and Martijn Oudijk and Lilian Peters and Lotte Ramerman and Anita Ravelli and Rosman, \{Ageeth Schonewille-\} and Sam Schoenmakers and Jeroen Struijs and Hanneke Torij and Beukering, \{Monique Van\} and \{van den Akker\}, Thomas and \{van den Heuvel\}, Marion and \{van Dillen\}, Jeroen and \{van Lenthe\}, Frank and Ourti, \{Tom Van\} and Arnoud Verhoeff and Marijn Vermeulen and Nettie Visser and Saskia Willers",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002",

language = "English",

volume = "236",

pages = "322--327",

journal = "Public Health",

issn = "0033-3506",

publisher = "Elsevier B.V.",

}

Burgos Ochoa, L, Bertens, L, Boderie, NW, Gravesteijn, BY, Obermann, S, Rosman, A, Struijs, J, Labrecque, J, de Groot, CJ, Been, J, Ambrosino, E, den Auweele, KV, Been, J, Beijers, R, Bertens, L, Bloemenkamp, K, Boderie, N, Burdorf, L, Ochoa, LB, de Jonge, A, de Weerth, C, Franx, A, Harper, S, Kazemier, BM, Klein, PP, Kretz, D, Labrecque, J, Mol, BW, Muris, J, Nieuwenhuijze, M, Obermann, S, Oudijk, M, Peters, L, Ramerman, L, Ravelli, A, Rosman, AS, Schoenmakers, S, Struijs, J, Torij, H, Beukering, MV, van den Akker, T, van den Heuvel, M, van Dillen, J, van Lenthe, F, Ourti, TV, Verhoeff, A, Vermeulen, M, Visser, N & Willers, S 2024, 'Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands', Public Health, vol. 236, pp. 322-327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002

TY - JOUR

T1 - Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands

AU - Burgos Ochoa, L.

AU - Bertens, L.

AU - Boderie, N.W.

AU - Gravesteijn, B.Y.

AU - Obermann, S.

AU - Rosman, A.

AU - Struijs, Jeroen

AU - Labrecque, Jeremy

AU - de Groot, Christianne J.

AU - Been, Jasper

AU - Ambrosino, Elena

AU - den Auweele, Kim Van

AU - Been, Jasper

AU - Beijers, Roseriet

AU - Bertens, Loes

AU - Bloemenkamp, Kitty

AU - Boderie, Nienke

AU - Burdorf, Lex

AU - Ochoa, Lizbeth Burgos

AU - de Jonge, Ank

AU - de Weerth, Caroline

AU - Franx, Arie

AU - Harper, Sam

AU - Kazemier, Brenda M.

AU - Klein, Peter Paul

AU - Kretz, Daniëlle

AU - Labrecque, Jeremy

AU - Mol, Ben Willem

AU - Muris, Jean

AU - Nieuwenhuijze, Marianne

AU - Obermann, Sylvia

AU - Oudijk, Martijn

AU - Peters, Lilian

AU - Ramerman, Lotte

AU - Ravelli, Anita

AU - Rosman, Ageeth Schonewille-

AU - Schoenmakers, Sam

AU - Struijs, Jeroen

AU - Torij, Hanneke

AU - Beukering, Monique Van

AU - van den Akker, Thomas

AU - van den Heuvel, Marion

AU - van Dillen, Jeroen

AU - van Lenthe, Frank

AU - Ourti, Tom Van

AU - Verhoeff, Arnoud

AU - Vermeulen, Marijn

AU - Visser, Nettie

AU - Willers, Saskia

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - Objective: Investigate the acute impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in March 2020 on a comprehensive range of perinatal outcomes. Study design: National registry-based quasi-experimental study. Methods: We obtained data from the Dutch Perinatal Registry (2010–2020) which was linked to multiple population registries containing sociodemographic variables. A difference-in-discontinuity approach was used to examine the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on various perinatal outcomes. We investigated preterm birth incidence across onset types, alongside other perinatal outcomes including low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, NICU admission, low-APGAR-score, perinatal mortality, neonatal death, and stillbirths. Results: The analysis of the national-level dataset revealed a consistent pattern of reduced preterm births after the enactment of COVID-19 mitigation measures on March 9, 2020 (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.68–0.96). A drop in spontaneous preterm births post-implementation was observed (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.62–0.98), whereas no change was observed for iatrogenic births. Regarding stillbirths (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.46–1.95) our analysis did not find compelling evidence of substantial changes. For the remaining outcomes, no discernible shifts were observed. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the reduction in preterm births following COVID-19 mitigation measures in the Netherlands. No discernible changes were observed for other outcomes, including stillbirths. Our results challenge previous concerns of a potential increase in stillbirths contributing to the drop in preterm births, suggesting alternative mechanisms.

AB - Objective: Investigate the acute impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures implemented in March 2020 on a comprehensive range of perinatal outcomes. Study design: National registry-based quasi-experimental study. Methods: We obtained data from the Dutch Perinatal Registry (2010–2020) which was linked to multiple population registries containing sociodemographic variables. A difference-in-discontinuity approach was used to examine the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on various perinatal outcomes. We investigated preterm birth incidence across onset types, alongside other perinatal outcomes including low birth weight, small-for-gestational-age, NICU admission, low-APGAR-score, perinatal mortality, neonatal death, and stillbirths. Results: The analysis of the national-level dataset revealed a consistent pattern of reduced preterm births after the enactment of COVID-19 mitigation measures on March 9, 2020 (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.68–0.96). A drop in spontaneous preterm births post-implementation was observed (OR = 0.80, 95% CI 0.62–0.98), whereas no change was observed for iatrogenic births. Regarding stillbirths (OR = 0.95, 95% CI 0.46–1.95) our analysis did not find compelling evidence of substantial changes. For the remaining outcomes, no discernible shifts were observed. Conclusions: Our findings confirm the reduction in preterm births following COVID-19 mitigation measures in the Netherlands. No discernible changes were observed for other outcomes, including stillbirths. Our results challenge previous concerns of a potential increase in stillbirths contributing to the drop in preterm births, suggesting alternative mechanisms.

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85204049529

U2 - 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002

DO - 10.1016/j.puhe.2024.09.002

M3 - Article

SN - 0033-3506

VL - 236

SP - 322

EP - 327

JO - Public Health

JF - Public Health

ER -

Impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on perinatal outcomes in the Netherlands

Abstract

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