Unprecedented reduction in births of very low birthweight (VLBW) and extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants during the COVID-19 lockdown in Ireland: a 'natural experiment' allowing analysis of data from the prior two decades.

Roy K PhilipHelen PurtillElizabeth ReidyMandy DalyMendinaro ImchaDeirdre McGrathNuala H O'ConnellColum P Dunne

Published in: BMJ global health (2020)

An unprecedented reduction in regional births of VLBW and ELBW infants was observed in Ireland coinciding with the COVID-19 lockdown. Potential determinants of this unique temporal trend possibly reside in the summative socioenvironmental impact of the COVID-19 lockdown. Our findings, if mirrored in other regions that have adopted a lockdown, demonstrate the potential to evaluate these implicated behavioural and socioenvironmental modifiers to positively influence VLBW and ELBW rates globally.

Keyphrases

coronavirus disease
sars cov
gestational age
respiratory syndrome coronavirus
big data
machine learning
artificial intelligence
data analysis