Daylight Saving Time and Spontaneous Deliveries: A Case–Control Study in Italy

Rosaria Cappadona, Sara Puzzarini, Vanessa Farinelli, Piergiorgio Iannone, Alfredo De Giorgi, Emanuele Di Simone, Roberto Manfredini, Rosita Verteramo, Pantaleo Greco, María Aurora Rodríguez Borrego, Fabio Fabbian and Pablo Jesús López Soto
Additional contact information
Rosaria Cappadona: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Sara Puzzarini: Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit, Department of Reproduction and Growth, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “S. Anna”, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Vanessa Farinelli: Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit, Department of Reproduction and Growth, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “S. Anna”, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Piergiorgio Iannone: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Alfredo De Giorgi: Clinica Medica Unit, Department of Medicine, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “S. Anna”, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Emanuele Di Simone: Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, I-00133 Rome, Italy
Roberto Manfredini: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Rosita Verteramo: Obstetrics & Gynecology Unit, Department of Reproduction and Growth, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria “S. Anna”, 44124 Ferrara, Italy
Pantaleo Greco: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
María Aurora Rodríguez Borrego: Department of Nursing, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14071 Córdoba, Spain
Fabio Fabbian: Department of Medical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
Pablo Jesús López Soto: Department of Nursing, Instituto Maimónides de Investigación Biomédica de Córdoba (IMIBIC), 14071 Córdoba, Spain

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 21, 1-9

Abstract: (1) Background: Although the current literature shows that daylight saving time (DST) may play a role in human health and behavior, this topic has been poorly investigated with reference to Obstetrics. The aim of this case–control study was to evaluate whether DST may influence the number of spontaneous deliveries. (2) Methods: A low-risk pregnancy cohort with spontaneous onset of labor ( n = 7415) was analyzed from a single Italian region for the period 2016–2018. Primary outcome was the number of spontaneous deliveries. Secondary outcomes were: gestational age at delivery, type and time of delivery, use of analgesia, birth weight, and 5-min Apgar at delivery. We compared the outcomes in the two weeks after DST (cases) to the two weeks before DST (controls). (3) Results: Data showed no significant difference between the number of deliveries occurring before and after DST (Chi-square = 0.546, p = 0.46). Vaginal deliveries at any gestational age showed no statistical difference between the two groups (Chi-square = 0.120, p = 0.73). There were no significant differences in the secondary outcomes, as well. (4) Conclusions: DST has neither a significant impact on the number of deliveries nor on the obstetric variables investigated by this study.

Keywords: daylight saving time (DST); desynchronization; circadian rhythm; chronobiology; nursing; spontaneous delivery; midwifery; obstetrics (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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