RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Danish premature birth rates during the COVID-19 lockdown JF Archives of Disease in Childhood - Fetal and Neonatal Edition JO Arch Dis Child Fetal Neonatal Ed FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health SP 93 OP 95 DO 10.1136/archdischild-2020-319990 VO 106 IS 1 A1 Gitte Hedermann A1 Paula Louise Hedley A1 Marie Bækvad-Hansen A1 Henrik Hjalgrim A1 Klaus Rostgaard A1 Porntiva Poorisrisak A1 Morten Breindahl A1 Mads Melbye A1 David M Hougaard A1 Michael Christiansen A1 Ulrik Lausten-Thomsen YR 2021 UL http://fn.bmj.com/content/106/1/93.abstract AB To explore the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on premature birth rates in Denmark, a nationwide register-based prevalence proportion study was conducted on all 31 180 live singleton infants born in Denmark between 12 March and 14 April during 2015–2020.The distribution of gestational ages (GAs) was significantly different (p=0.004) during the lockdown period compared with the previous 5 years and was driven by a significantly lower rate of extremely premature children during the lockdown compared with the corresponding mean rate for the same dates in the previous years (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.40, p<0.001). No significant difference between the lockdown and previous years was found for other GA categories.The reasons for this decrease are unclear. However, the lockdown has provided a unique opportunity to examine possible factors related to prematurity. Identification of possible causal mechanisms might stimulate changes in clinical practice.