Risks of stillbirth and early neonatal death by day of week.
BACKGROUND
Higher risks of stillbirth or early neonatal death, or both, have been reported from several countries for births on weekend days. It is unclear whether such higher risks have persisted in recent years. We investigated weekend-associated risks of stillbirth and early neonatal death in most Canadian provinces.


METHODS
We studied all 3 239 972 births recorded in Canada, excluding Ontario, between 1985 and 1998. The main outcome measures were the relative risks (RRs) of stillbirth and early neonatal death for infants born on weekends versus weekdays.


RESULTS
The proportion of births on weekend days was 24% lower than the proportion on weekdays. Infants born on weekend days had slightly but significantly elevated risks of stillbirth (RR 1.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.09) and early neonatal death (RR 1.11, 95% CI 1.07-1.16). However, the higher risks disappeared after adjustment for gestational age.


CONCLUSIONS
The crude risks of stillbirth and early neonatal death remained slightly higher for births on weekend days, but the excesses were much smaller than those reported from other countries.
Luo
Zhong-Cheng
ZC
Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montréal, Quebec, Canada.
Liu
Shiliang
S
Wilkins
Russell
R
Kramer
Michael S
MS
D001238:Asphyxia Neonatorum / Q000401:mortality; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D000013:Congenital Abnormalities / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007226:Infant Mortality; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013995:Time