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
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
