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Londero AP, Bertozzi S, Messina G, Xholli A, Michelerio V, Mariuzzi L, Prefumo F, Cagnacci A. Exploring the mystical relationship between the Moon, Sun, and birth rate. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2024; 24:454. [PMID: 38951765 PMCID: PMC11218357 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-024-06654-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The Moon has a noticeable influence on the Earth due to its gravity, the most visible manifestation of which are tides. We aimed to see if the Moon's daily cycle, like the Sun's, affects the prevalence and incidence of childbirth. METHODS In this retrospective cohort study, we examined all deliveries at the Academic Hospital of Udine between 2001 and 2019. All consecutive singleton pregnancies with spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery were included. RESULTS During the period, 13,349 singleton pregnancies with spontaneous labor and vaginal delivery were delivered in 6939 days. A significantly higher prevalence of deliveries was found with the Moon above the horizon (50.63% vs. 49.37%, p < 0.05). Moreover, during the day, there was a significantly higher prevalence of deliveries than during nighttime (53.74% vs. 45.79%, p < 0.05). Combining the Moon and Sun altitude, the majority of deliveries were registered when both were above the horizon (27.39% vs. 26.13%, 23.25%, or 23.24%, p < 0.05). These findings were confirmed in multivariate analysis after adjusting for parity, gestational age, or season. We found no correlation between birth and the Moon phase. CONCLUSIONS Our data support the interaction of the Moon and the Sun in determining the time of birth. More research is needed to understand these phenomena and improve our understanding of labor initiation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambrogio P Londero
- Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Infant Health, University of Genoa, Genova, GE, 16132, Italy.
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, Genova, GE, 16147, Italy.
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Infant Health, University of Genoa, Largo Rosanna Benzi, 10, Genova, GE, 16132, Italy.
| | - Serena Bertozzi
- Breast Unit, Academic Hospital of Udine, Udine, UD, 33100, Italy
| | | | - Anjeza Xholli
- Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino, Genoa, 16132, Italy
| | - Virginia Michelerio
- Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Infant Health, University of Genoa, Genova, GE, 16132, Italy
| | - Laura Mariuzzi
- Institute of Pathologic Anatomy, DAME, Academic Hospital of Udine, Udine, UD, 33100, Italy
| | - Federico Prefumo
- Obstetrics and Gynecology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via Gerolamo Gaslini, 5, Genova, GE, 16147, Italy
| | - Angelo Cagnacci
- Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Infant Health, University of Genoa, Genova, GE, 16132, Italy
- Academic Unit of Obstetrics and Gynecology, IRCCS Ospedale San Martino, Genoa, 16132, Italy
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Moškon M, Kovač U, Raspor Dall'Olio L, Geršak K, Kavšek G, Bojc Šmid E, Trojner Bregar A, Rozman D. Circadian characteristics of term and preterm labors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:4033. [PMID: 38369585 PMCID: PMC10874972 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-54490-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
The labor is a physiological event considered to have its own circadian (diurnal) rhythm, but some of the data remain conflicting, especially for preterm births. In this retrospective study, we analyzed the circadian trends of labor onset times in the Slovenian birth cohort from 1990 to 2018 with over 550,000 cases of singleton births. The number of term and preterm labor onsets was calculated for each hour in a day and circadian trends were evaluated for each of the study groups by modeling with a generalized Poisson distribution linked with the cosinor regression model using logarithmic link function. The induced labors were taken as the control group since the timing of labor depends mostly on the working schedule of personnel and not on the intrinsic rhythmic characteristics. For induced labors, the main peak in the number of labor cases was observed in the late morning hours (around 10 AM) for all gestational ages. The prominence of this peak becomes smaller in spontaneous premature labors with gradually disrupting rhythmicity in very preterm and extremely preterm cases. Labors starting with spontaneous contractions peak between 6 and 7 AM and lose the rhythmicity at 35 weeks of gestation while labors starting with a spontaneous rupture of membranes peak at 1 AM and lose the rhythmicity at 31 weeks of gestation, suggesting differences in underlying mechanisms. According to our knowledge, this is the first study that shows differences of circadian trends between different types of spontaneous labors, i.e., labors initiated with contraction and labors initiated with a spontaneous rupture of membranes. Moreover, the obtained results represent evidence of gradual disruption of rhythmicity from mild to extreme prematurity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miha Moškon
- Faculty of Computer and Information Science, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Urša Kovač
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Lucija Raspor Dall'Olio
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Ksenija Geršak
- Research Unit, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Gorazd Kavšek
- Research Unit, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Eva Bojc Šmid
- Research Unit, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Andreja Trojner Bregar
- Research Unit, Division of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Damjana Rozman
- Centre for Functional Genomics and Bio-Chips, Institute for Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Gudziunaite S, Shabani Z, Weitensfelder L, Moshammer H. Time series analysis in environmental epidemiology: challenges and considerations. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2023; 36:704-716. [PMID: 37782034 PMCID: PMC10743348 DOI: 10.13075/ijomeh.1896.02237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In environmental epidemiology, time series analyses represent a widely used statistical tool. However, though being commonly used, there is soften confusion regarding the specific requirements, such as which link function might be most appropriate, when or how to control for seasonality or how to account for lags. The present overview draws from experiences in other disciplines and discusses the proper execution of time series analyses based on considerations that are relevant in environmental epidemiology. Time series analysis in environmental epidemiology focuses on acute events caused by short-term changes in exposure. These exposures should be fairly wide-spread affecting a large number of persons, usually all inhabitants of a political entity. Pollutants in air or drinking water as well as meteorological factors serve as typical examples. Despite the many time series analyses performed world-wide, some health effects that would lend themselves to that approach are still under-explored. This would include also some neurological and psychiatric endpoints. Int J Occup Med Environ Health. 2023;36(6):704-16.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Gudziunaite
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Zana Shabani
- University of Hasan Pristina, Medical Faculty, Pristina, Kosovo
| | - Lisbeth Weitensfelder
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Vienna, Austria
| | - Hanns Moshammer
- Medical University of Vienna, Department of Environmental Health, Center for Public Health, Vienna, Austria
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