PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Luo, Zhong-Cheng
AU  - Liu, Shiliang
AU  - Wilkins, Russell
AU  - Kramer, Michael S.
ED  - ,
TI  - Risks of stillbirth and early neonatal death by day of week
DP  - 2004 Feb 03
TA  - Canadian Medical Association Journal
PG  - 337--341
VI  - 170
IP  - 3
4099  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/170/3/337.short
4100  - http://www.cmaj.ca/content/170/3/337.full
SO  - CMAJ2004 Feb 03; 170
AB  - 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. Interpretation: 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.