Table 1

Change in neonatal care volume and number of preterm births during weeks 2 through 9 vs weeks 10 through 17 of 2020

Weeks 2–9, 2020Weeks 10–17, 2020Difference (% change)Adjusted IRR (95% CI)*P value
Caesarean section, n17561620136 (7.7)0.91 (0.84 to 0.99)0.03
NICU admission, days750756651842 (24.5)0.76 (0.65 to 0.89)<0.001
GCU admission, days426926511618 (37.9)0.71 (0.66 to 0.75)<0.001
Neonatal resuscitation, n20281121 (59.9)0.37 (0.25 to 0.55)<0.001
Births before 33 6/7 weeks, n996633 (33.3)0.71 (0.50 to 1.00)0.05†
Births between 34 0/7 and 36 6/7 weeks, n21119021 (10.0)0.85 (0.74 to 0.98)0.02

  • *Estimated using a difference-in-differences model that regressed the weekly volume of each neonatal care aspect or the weekly number of preterm births on an interaction variable between the outbreak status (weeks 10–17 vs weeks 2–9) and the year indicator (2020 vs 2019) with adjustment for variables for each week and the year indicator.

  • †p<0.05.

  • GCU, growing care unit; NICU, neonatal intensive care unit.