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Morooka H, Haug EB, Malmo V, Loennechen JP, Mukamal KJ, Sen A, Janszky I, Horn J. Parity, infertility, age at first birth, and risk of atrial fibrillation: data from the HUNT study. Eur J Prev Cardiol 2024; 31:1645-1652. [PMID: 38946335 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/30/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
AIMS Although parity, infertility, and age at first birth are important for later development of cardiovascular disease, research on their association with atrial fibrillation (AF) is limited. METHODS AND RESULTS We linked data from the population-based HUNT study and the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN) and validated medical records from local hospitals. A total of 24 015 women aged 45 years or older were followed for verified incident AF. Parity and age at first birth were retrieved from the MBRN or from self-reported questionnaires in the HUNT study. A history of infertility was self-reported on the HUNT questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) for the multivariable-adjusted associations of parity, infertility, and age at first birth with risk of AF. During a median follow-up of 12.8 years, 1448 (6.0%) participants developed AF. Women with higher parity (four or more births vs. two births) were at 21% higher risk of AF [HR 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.39]. A history of infertility was also associated with the risk of AF (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.02-1.42). Among parous women, younger age at first birth (<20 vs. 20-29 years) was associated with a 20% higher risk of AF (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.03-1.40). CONCLUSION Women with four or more births, or a history of infertility, or younger age at first birth have approximately a 20% higher risk of AF among women over 45 years old.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hikaru Morooka
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 8905, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Kirkegata 2, 7600 Levanger, Norway
| | - Eirin B Haug
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 8905, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Vegard Malmo
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Clinic of Cardiology, St. Olav's University Hospital, Prinsesse Kristinas gate 3, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Jan Pål Loennechen
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Clinic of Cardiology, St. Olav's University Hospital, Prinsesse Kristinas gate 3, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Kenneth J Mukamal
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, 330 Brookline Ave, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Abhijit Sen
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 8905, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Center for Oral Health Services and Research (TkMidt), Professor Brochs gt. 2, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Imre Janszky
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 8905, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Regional Center for Health Care Improvement, St. Olav's University Hospital, Prinsesse Kristinas gate 3, 7030 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet, Norrbackagatan 4, 171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julie Horn
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, 8905, N-7491 Trondheim, Norway
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Levanger Hospital, Nord-Trøndelag Hospital Trust, Kirkegata 2, 7600 Levanger, Norway
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2
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Domain G, Banerjee A. Reproductive status: a new target for prevention of atrial fibrillation in women? Eur J Prev Cardiol 2024; 31:1653-1654. [PMID: 39161166 DOI: 10.1093/eurjpc/zwae275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Guillaume Domain
- Electrophysiology Division, Toulouse University Hospital, Toulouse, Occitaine, France
| | - Amitava Banerjee
- Institute of Health Informatics, University College London, 222 Euston Road, NW1 2DA London, UK
- Department of Cardiology, University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, 250 Euston Road, NW1 2PB London, UK
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3
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Zhao CC, Scott M, Eisenberg ML. Male Fertility as a Proxy for Health. J Clin Med 2024; 13:5559. [PMID: 39337044 PMCID: PMC11432267 DOI: 10.3390/jcm13185559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2024] [Revised: 08/30/2024] [Accepted: 09/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Male fertility is affected by a wide range of medical conditions that directly and indirectly affect spermatogenesis. As such, it can be useful as both an indicator of current health and a predictive factor for future health outcomes. Herein, we discuss the current literature regarding the association between male fertility and systemic health conditions and exposures. We review the connection between male fertility and genetics, medications, diet, and environmental pollutants, as well as its effects on future oncologic, cardiovascular, and autoimmune conditions. Understanding this interplay will allow more health care providers to engage in health counseling that will not only improve men's reproductive outcomes but also their overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Calvin C Zhao
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael Scott
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Michael L Eisenberg
- Department of Urology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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4
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Lee MC, Chien PS, Zhou Y, Yu T. Prevalence and help-seeking for infertility in a population with a low fertility rate. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0306572. [PMID: 39024399 PMCID: PMC11257226 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0306572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In Taiwan there has been limited research of epidemiological surveys on prevalence of infertility. This study aimed to provide the updated prevalence of primary infertility and of help-seeking among residents in Taiwan. METHODS Between February and March 2023, we conducted a cross-sectional population-based telephone survey of 1,297 men and women aged 20-49 years who were residing in Taiwan. We used computer-assisted telephone interviewing techniques to collect data regarding sociodemographic and reproductive characteristics. Using two approaches to defining infertility, we estimated the prevalence of infertility and the prevalence of help-seeking behaviors. Our analyses accounted for survey weighting. RESULTS The response rate was 27.9%. Among 1,297 respondents, 829 (63.9%) were married or cohabiting, including 404 men and 425 women. The prevalence of primary infertility using definition 1 was 5.6% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 4.2% - 7.4%); the prevalence of primary infertility using definition 2 was 6.7% (5.1% - 8.6%). Regarding professional help-seeking, 11.1% (9.2%-13.5%) had ever consulted a doctor about getting pregnant; 9.9% (8.1%-12.2%) had ever received diagnostic tests/treatment to help with conceiving; 2.6% (1.6% - 4.0%) were currently receiving diagnostic tests/treatment to help with conceiving. CONCLUSION Our nationwide survey of the prevalence of primary infertility in Taiwan suggests that the prevalence was not as high as what is often seen in the news reports (about 14%). These findings also suggest there may be a gap between those who are currently experiencing infertility and those who are currently being treated; hence, we call for raising awareness of infertility and improving access to infertility healthcare.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei-Chuan Lee
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Pharmacy, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Shan Chien
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, Liouying, Taiwan
| | - Yue Zhou
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Tsung Yu
- Department of Public Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
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5
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Zhuang Y, Li L, Zhang Y, Liu X, Zeng B, Zhu B, Dai F. Association between Life's Essential 8 and Infertility as Well as the Mediating Effects of Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Factors Among U.S. Women Aged 18-45 Years. Reprod Sci 2024:10.1007/s43032-024-01635-3. [PMID: 38977640 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-024-01635-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Management of cardiovascular disease in pregnancy is important, yet the association between cardiovascular health and infertility is rarely reported. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between Life's Essential 8 (LE8), a novel cardiovascular health (CVH) measure, and infertility, and to investigate potential mediating mechanisms. This study investigated cross-sectional data from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. LE8 score (ranging from 0 to 100) was calculated as the unweighted average of eight CVH metrics. The association between LE8 and infertility was explored through weighted multiple logistic regression. Restricted cubic splines were used to explore nonlinear correlation. In addition, mediation analysis was conducted to investigate the role of oxidative stress and inflammatory markers systematically. After strict exclusion criteria, 1703 American women aged 18-45 years were included. After full adjustment, the LE8 score showed a negative correlation with infertility [per 1 SD increase, OR = 0.675, 95% CI: 0.553-0.824], with a linear dose-response relationship (non-linear P = 0.122). Similar linear negative correlations were found between health factor scores and infertility, with higher body mass index and glucose scores having a significantly lower risk of infertility. Stratified analyses showed a stronger inversed relationship between LE8 and infertility in younger populations. Moreover, mediation analysis revealed that uric acid concentration and lymphocyte count mediated the effect of LE8 on infertility (P < 0.05). LE8 and its subscale scores were linearly and negatively associated with infertility, which may be mediated in part through uric acid and lymphocyte count. Focusing on weight management and glycemic control can effectively reduce the risk of infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Zhuang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Laifu Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yanqi Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuna Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Beibei Zeng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Boxu Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Fei Dai
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China.
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Skåra KH, Hernáez Á, Næss Ø, Fraser A, Lawlor DA, Burgess S, Brumpton BM, Magnus MC. Cardiovascular disease risk factors and infertility: multivariable analyses and one-sample Mendelian randomization analyses in the Trøndelag Health Study. Hum Reprod Open 2024; 2024:hoae033. [PMID: 38911051 PMCID: PMC11190059 DOI: 10.1093/hropen/hoae033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Are cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors causally associated with higher risk of infertility among women and men? SUMMARY ANSWER We found evidence to support a causal relationship between smoking initiation and history of infertility in women. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Several CVD risk factors are associated with history of infertility. Previous studies using Mendelian randomization (MR) further support a causal relationship between BMI and infertility in women. STUDY DESIGN SIZE DURATION We used data from the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT) in Norway, a prospective population-based cohort study, including 26 811 women and 15 598 men participating in three survey collections in 1995-1997 (HUNT2), 2006-2008 (HUNT3), and 2017-2019 (HUNT4). PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS SETTING METHODS Our outcome was women's self-reported history of infertility, defined as ever having tried to conceive for 12 months or more or having used ART. We assigned the history of infertility reported by women to their male partners; therefore, the measure of infertility was on the couple level. We used both conventional multivariable analyses and one-sample MR analyses to evaluate the association between female and male CVD risk factors (including BMI, blood pressure, lipid profile measurements, and smoking behaviours) and history of infertility in women and men, separately. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE A total of 4702 women (18%) and 2508 men (16%) were classified with a history of infertility. We found a higher risk of infertility among female smokers compared to non-smokers in both multivariable and MR analyses (odds ratio (OR) in multivariable analysis, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.12-1.28; OR in MR analysis, 1.13; CI, 1.02-1.26), and potentially for higher BMI (OR in multivariable analysis, 1.13; CI, 1.09-1.18; OR in MR analysis, 1.11, CI, 0.92-1.34). In multivariable analysis in women, we also found evidence of associations between triglyceride levels, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, lifetime smoking index, and smoking intensity with higher risk of infertility. However, these results were not consistent in MR analyses. We found no robust or consistent associations between male CVD risk factors and infertility. LIMITATIONS REASONS FOR CAUTION Our main limitation was that the CVD risk factors measured might not adequately capture the relevant time periods for when couples were trying to conceive. Additionally, we did not have information on causes of infertility in either women or men. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Women with infertility could have a worse CVD risk factor profile and thus public health interventions aimed at reducing the impact of some CVD risk factors, such as smoking and BMI, could reduce the burden of infertility. However, additional MR studies of the relationship between CVD risk factors and infertility with a larger sample size would be of value. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTERESTS The study was supported by a grant from the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreements no. 947684). This research was also supported by the Research Council of Norway through its Centres of Excellence funding scheme (project no. 262700) and partly funded by the Research Council of Norway, project: Women's fertility-an essential component of health and well-being (project no. 320656). D.A.L. and A.F. work in a unit that is supported by the University of Bristol and the UK Medical Research Council (MC_UU_00011/6). D.A.L.'s contribution to the article is supported by the European Research Council (101021566), the British Heart Foundation (CH/F/20/90003 and AA/18/7/34219). S.B.'s contribution to the article is supported by the Wellcome Trust (225790/Z/22/Z). B.M.B. is funded by The Liaison Committee for education, research and innovation in Central Norway; and the Joint Research Committee between St. Olavs Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU. The genotyping in HUNT was financed by the National Institute of Health (NIH); University of Michigan; The Research Council of Norway; The Liaison Committee for education, research and innovation in Central Norway; and the Joint Research Committee between St. Olavs Hospital and the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, NTNU. None of the funding organizations influenced the study design, reporting, or interpretation of results. The views expressed in the present article are those of the authors and not necessarily any acknowledged funding organization. D.A.L. reports grants from Medtronic Ltd and Roche Diagnostics outside the submitted work. The other authors have no conflicts of interest. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karoline H Skåra
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Álvaro Hernáez
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Øyvind Næss
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Abigail Fraser
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Deborah A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Stephen Burgess
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ben M Brumpton
- HUNT Center for Molecular and Clinical Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, NTNU Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Clinic of Medicine, St Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Maria C Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Hernáez Á, Elhakeem A, Barros H, Vrijkotte TGM, Fraser A, Lawlor DA, Magnus MC. Parental infertility and offspring cardiometabolic trajectories: a pooled analysis of three European cohorts. Fertil Steril 2024; 121:853-863. [PMID: 38237653 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2024.01.017] [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: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 01/01/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether parental infertility is associated with differences in cardiometabolic trajectories in offspring. DESIGN Pooled observational analysis in three prospective cohorts. SETTING Three nationwide pregnancy cohorts. PATIENTS A total of 14,609 singletons from the UK Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, the Portuguese Geraçao 21, and the Amsterdam Born Children and Their Development study. Each cohort contributed data up to ages 26, 12, and 13 years, respectively. INTERVENTION Parental infertility is defined as time-to-pregnancy of ≥12 months (n = 1,392, 9.5%). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Trajectories of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) level, triglycerides level, and glucose level were compared in the offspring of couples with and without infertility. Trajectories were modeled using mixed-effects models with natural cubic splines adjusting for cohort, sex of the offspring, and maternal factors (age, BMI, smoking, educational level, parity, and ethnicity). Predicted levels of cardiometabolic traits up to 25 years of age were compared with parental infertility. RESULTS Offspring of couples with infertility had increasingly higher BMI (difference in mean predicted levels by age 25 years: 1.09 kg/m2, 95% confidence interval [0.68-1.50]) and suggestively higher diastolic blood pressure at age 25 years (1.21 mmHg [-0.003 to 2.43]). Their LDL-C tended to be higher, and their HDL-C values tended to be lower over time (age: 25 years, LDL-C: 4.07% [-0.79 to 8.93]; HDL-C: -2.78% [-6.99 to 1.43]). At age 17 years, offspring of couples with infertility had higher waist circumference (1.05 cm [0.11-1.99]) and systolic blood pressure (age: 17 years; 0.93 mmHg [0.044-1.81]), but these differences attenuated at later ages. No intergroup differences in triglyceride and glucose level trajectories were observed. Further adjustment for paternal age, BMI, smoking, and educational level, and both parents' histories of diabetes and hypertension in the cohort with this information available (Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children) did not attenuate intergroup differences. CONCLUSION Offspring of couples with infertility relative to those of fertile couples have increasingly higher BMI over the years, suggestively higher blood pressure levels, and tend to have greater values of LDL-C and lower values of HDL-C with age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Hernáez
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway; Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain; Consorcio CIBER, M.P. Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Ahmed Elhakeem
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Henrique Barros
- EPIUnit - Instituto de Saúde Pública, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal; Laboratório para a Investigação Integrativa e Translacional em Saúde Populacional, Porto, Portugal
| | - Tanja G M Vrijkotte
- Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam Reproduction and Development Research Institute, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Abigail Fraser
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah A Lawlor
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom; National Institute for Health Research Bristol Biomedical Research Centre, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Maria C Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
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Wyatt S, Kvalvik LG, Singh A, Klungsøyr K, Østbye T, Skjærven R. Heterogeneity in the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality after the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy across mothers' lifetime reproductive history. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2024; 38:230-237. [PMID: 38380741 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.13059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prior studies on maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have focused only on a woman's first birth and have not accounted for successive affected pregnancies. OBJECTIVES The objective of this study is to identify mothers' risk of CVD mortality considering lifetime reproductive history. METHODS We used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry, and the Norwegian National Population Register to identify all mothers who gave birth from 1967 to 2020. Our outcome was mothers' CVD death before age 70. The primary exposure was the lifetime history of HDP. The secondary exposure was the order of HDP and gestational age at delivery of pregnancies with HDP. We used Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), adjusting for education, mother's age, and year of last birth. These models were stratified by the lifetime number of births. RESULTS Among 987,378 mothers, 86,294 had HDP in at least one birth. The highest CVD mortality, relative to mothers without HDP, was among those with a pre-term HDP in their first two births, although this represented 1.0% of mothers with HDP (HR 5.12, 95% CI 2.66, 9.86). Multiparous mothers with term HDP in their first birth only had no increased risk of CVD relative to mothers without HDP (36.9% of all mothers with HDP; HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.95, 1.32). All other mothers with HDP had a 1.5- to 4-fold increased risk of CVD mortality. CONCLUSIONS This study identified heterogeneity in the risk of CVD mortality among mothers with a history of HDP. A third of these mothers are not at higher risk compared to women without HDP, while some less common patterns of HDP history are associated with severe risk of CVD mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sage Wyatt
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Liv Grimstvedt Kvalvik
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Aditi Singh
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Kari Klungsøyr
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Bergen, Norway
| | - Truls Østbye
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Family Medicine and Community Health, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Rolv Skjærven
- Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
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9
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Lindahl-Jacobsen R, Tavlo Petersson M, Priskorn L, Skakkebæk NE, Juul A, Kristensen DM, Eisenberg ML, Jensen TK. Time to pregnancy and life expectancy: a cohort study of 18 796 pregnant couples. Hum Reprod 2024; 39:595-603. [PMID: 38115232 DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead260] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
STUDY QUESTION Is fecundity, measured as time to pregnancy (TTP), associated with mortality in parents? SUMMARY ANSWER Prolonged TTP is associated with increased mortality in both mothers and fathers in a dose-response manner. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Several studies have linked both male and female fecundity to mortality. In women, infertility has been linked to several diseases, but studies suggest that the underlying conditions, rather than infertility, increase mortality. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION A prospective cohort study was carried out on 18 796 pregnant couples, in which the pregnant women attended prophylactic antenatal care between 1973 and 1987 at a primary and tertiary care unit. The couples were followed in Danish mortality registers from their child's birth date until death or until 2018. The follow-up period was up to 47 years, and there was complete follow-up until death, emigration or end of study. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS At the first antenatal visit, the pregnant women were asked to report the time to the current pregnancy. Inclusion was restricted to the first pregnancy, and TTP was categorised into <12 months, ≥12 months, not planned, and not available. In sub-analyses, TTP ≥12 was further categorized into 12-35, 36-60, and >60 months. Information for parents was linked to several Danish nationwide health registries. Survival analysis was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HRs) with a 95% CI for survival and adjusted for age at the first attempt to become pregnant, year of birth, socioeconomic status, mother's smoking during pregnancy, and mother's BMI. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Mothers and fathers with TTP >60 months survived, respectively, 3.5 (95% CI: 2.6-4.3) and 2.7 (95% CI: 1.8-3.7) years shorter than parents with a TTP <12 months. The mortality was higher for fathers (HR: 1.21, 95% CI: 1.09-1.34) and mothers (HR: 1.29, 95% CI: 1.12-1.49) with TTP ≥12 months compared to parents with TTP <12 months. The risk of all-cause mortality during the study period increased in a dose-response manner with the highest adjusted HR of 1.98 (95% CI: 1.62-2.41) for fathers and 2.03 (95% CI: 1.56-2.63) for mothers with TTP >60 months. Prolonged TTP was associated with several different causes of death in both fathers and mothers, indicating that the underlying causes of the relation between fecundity and survival may be multi-factorial. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION A limitation is that fecundity is measured using a pregnancy-based approach. Thus, the cohort is conditioned on fertility success and excludes sterile couples, unsuccessful attempts and spontaneous abortions. The question used to measure TTP when the pregnant woman was interviewed at her first attended prophylactic antenatal care: 'From the time you wanted a pregnancy until it occurred, how much time passed?' could potentially have led to serious misclassification if the woman did not answer on time starting unprotected intercourse but on the start of wishing to have a child. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS We found that TTP is a strong marker of survival, contributing to the still-emerging evidence that fecundity in men and women reflects their health and survival potential. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The authors acknowledge an unrestricted grant from Ferring. The funder was not involved in the study design, collection, analysis, interpretation of data, the writing of this article, or the decision to submit it for publication. M.L.E. is an advisor to Ro, VSeat, Doveras, and Next. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Lindahl-Jacobsen
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Biodemography, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Center on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - M Tavlo Petersson
- Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Biodemography, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
- Interdisciplinary Center on Population Dynamics (CPop), University of Southern Denmark, Odense C, Denmark
| | - L Priskorn
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - N E Skakkebæk
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - A Juul
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - D M Kristensen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Copenhagen University Hospital-Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Inserm (Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale), Irset-Inserm UMR 1085, Rennes, France
- Department of Science and Environment, Roskilde University, Roskilde, Denmark
| | - M L Eisenberg
- Male Reproductive Medicine and Surgery, Departments of Urology and Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - T K Jensen
- Department of Public Health, Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Odense M, Denmark
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10
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Niazi E, Dumanski SM. Change of HeART: Cardiovascular Implications of Assisted Reproductive Technology. CJC Open 2024; 6:142-152. [PMID: 38487072 PMCID: PMC10935705 DOI: 10.1016/j.cjco.2023.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular (CV) disease is the leading cause of death in women, and it may manifest differently than in men, in part related to sex-specific CV risk factors. In females, assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) are commonly used to treat infertility, and they utilize controlled ovarian stimulation involving the administration of exogenous sex hormones. ARTs, and especially controlled ovarian stimulation, have been associated with an increased pregnancy and short-term CV risk, although the long-term CV implications of these treatments in individuals treated with ARTs and their offspring remain unclear. This review endeavors to provide a comprehensive examination of what is known about the relationship between ART and CV outcomes for females treated with ARTs, as well as their offspring, and recommendations for future research. Novel insights into female-specific CV risk factors are critical to reduce the disproportionate burden of CV disease in Canadian women. ART has revolutionized reproductive medicine, offering hope to millions of individuals with infertility worldwide, and a further understanding of the CV implications of this important sex-specific CV risk factor is warranted urgently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elaha Niazi
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Sandra M. Dumanski
- Department of Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Libin Cardiovascular Institute, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- O’Brien Institute for Public Health, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
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11
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Hernáez Á, Skåra KH, Page CM, Mitter VR, Hernández MH, Magnus P, Njølstad PR, Andreassen OA, Corfield EC, Havdahl A, Næss Ø, Brumpton B, Åsvold BO, Lawlor DA, Fraser A, Magnus MC. Parental genetically predicted liability for coronary heart disease and risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes: a cohort study. BMC Med 2024; 22:35. [PMID: 38273336 PMCID: PMC10809500 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-023-03223-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO) may unmask or exacerbate a woman's underlying risk for coronary heart disease (CHD). We estimated associations of maternal and paternal genetically predicted liability for CHD with lifelong risk of APOs. We hypothesized that associations would be found for women, but not their male partners (negative controls). METHODS We studied up to 83,969 women (and up to 55,568 male partners) from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study or the Trøndelag Health Study with genotyping data and lifetime history of any APO in their pregnancies (1967-2019) in the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (miscarriage, stillbirth, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, gestational diabetes, small for gestational age, large for gestational age, and spontaneous preterm birth). Maternal and paternal genetic risk scores (GRS) for CHD were generated using 148 gene variants (p-value < 5 × 10-8, not in linkage disequilibrium). Associations between GRS for CHD and each APO were determined using logistic regression, adjusting for genomic principal components, in each cohort separately, and combined using fixed effects meta-analysis. RESULTS One standard deviation higher GRS for CHD in women was related to increased risk of any hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (odds ratio [OR] 1.08, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.05-1.10), pre-eclampsia (OR 1.08, 95% CI 1.05-1.11), and small for gestational age (OR 1.04, 95% CI 1.01-1.06). Imprecise associations with lower odds of large for gestational age (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96-1.00) and higher odds of stillbirth (OR 1.04, 95% CI 0.98-1.11) were suggested. These findings remained consistent after adjusting for number of total pregnancies and the male partners' GRS and restricting analyses to stable couples. Associations for other APOs were close to the null. There was weak evidence of an association of paternal genetically predicted liability for CHD with spontaneous preterm birth in female partners (OR 1.02, 95% CI 0.99-1.05), but not with other APOs. CONCLUSIONS Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, small for gestational age, and stillbirth may unmask women with a genetically predicted propensity for CHD. The association of paternal genetically predicted CHD risk with spontaneous preterm birth in female partners needs further exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Álvaro Hernáez
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skøyen, 0213, PO 222, Oslo, Norway.
- Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Cardiovasculares (CIBERCV), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Karoline H Skåra
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skøyen, 0213, PO 222, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Community Medicine and Global Health, Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Christian M Page
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skøyen, 0213, PO 222, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Physical Health and Ageing, Division for Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vera R Mitter
- Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety Research Group, Department of Pharmacy, and PharmaTox Strategic Research Initiative, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Marta H Hernández
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skøyen, 0213, PO 222, Oslo, Norway
- Blanquerna School of Health Sciences, Universitat Ramon Llull, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Per Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skøyen, 0213, PO 222, Oslo, Norway
| | - Pål R Njølstad
- Center for Diabetes Research, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Children and Youth Clinic, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Ole A Andreassen
- Norwegian Centre for Mental Disorders Research, NORMENT, Division of Mental Health and Addiction, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Elizabeth C Corfield
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Alexandra Havdahl
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology and Mental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
- Nic Waals Institute, Lovisenberg Diakonale Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- ROMENTA Research Center, Department of Psychology, P, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Øyvind Næss
- Institute of Health and Society, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Mental and Physical Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ben Brumpton
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bjørn Olav Åsvold
- K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- HUNT Research Centre, Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Levanger, Norway
- Department of Endocrinology, Clinic of Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Deborah A Lawlor
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Abigail Fraser
- Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
- MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK
| | - Maria Christine Magnus
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Skøyen, 0213, PO 222, Oslo, Norway
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12
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Nichols AR, Rifas-Shiman SL, Switkowski KM, Zhang M, Young JG, Hivert MF, Chavarro JE, Oken E. History of Infertility and Midlife Cardiovascular Health in Female Individuals. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2350424. [PMID: 38180761 PMCID: PMC10770770 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.50424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Fertility status is a marker for future health, and infertility has been associated with risk for later cancer and diabetes, but associations with midlife cardiovascular health (CVH) in female individuals remain understudied. Objective To evaluate the association of infertility history with CVH at midlife (approximately age 50 years) among parous individuals. Design, Setting, and Participants Project Viva is a prospective cohort study of pregnant participants enrolled between 1999 and 2002 who delivered a singleton live birth in the greater Boston, Massachusetts, area. Infertility history was collected at a midlife visit between 2017 and 2021, approximately 18 years after enrollment. Data analysis was performed from January to June 2023. Exposures The primary exposure was any lifetime history of infertility identified by self-report, medical record, diagnosis, or claims for infertility treatment. Main Outcomes and Measures The American Heart Association's Life's Essential 8 (LE8) is a construct for ranking CVH that includes scores from 0 to 100 (higher scores denote better health status) in 4 behavioral (diet, physical activity, sleep, and smoking status) and 4 biomedical (body mass index, blood pressure, blood lipids, and glycemia) domains to form an overall assessment of CVH. Associations of a history of infertility (yes or no) with mean LE8 total, behavioral, biomedical, and blood biomarker (lipids and glycemia) scores were examined, adjusting for age at outcome (midlife visit), race and ethnicity, education, household income, age at menarche, and perceived body size at age 10 years. Results Of 468 included participants (mean [SD] age at the midlife visit, 50.6 [5.3] years) with exposure and outcome data, 160 (34.2%) experienced any infertility. Mean (SD) LE8 scores were 76.3 (12.2) overall, 76.5 (13.4) for the behavioral domain, 76.0 (17.5) for the biomedical domain, and 78.9 (19.2) for the blood biomarkers subdomain. In adjusted models, the estimated overall LE8 score at midlife was 2.94 points lower (95% CI, -5.13 to -0.74 points), the biomedical score was 4.07 points lower (95% CI, -7.33 to -0.78 points), and the blood subdomain score was 5.98 points lower (95% CI, -9.71 to -2.26 points) among those with vs without history of infertility. The point estimate also was lower for the behavioral domain score (β = -1.81; 95% CI, -4.28 to 0.66), although the result was not statistically significant. Conclusions and Relevance This cohort study of parous individuals found evidence for an association between a history of infertility and lower overall and biomedical CVH scores. Future study of enhanced cardiovascular preventive strategies among those who experience infertility is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy R. Nichols
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Karen M. Switkowski
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Mingyu Zhang
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Jessica G. Young
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Marie-France Hivert
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Diabetes Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston
| | - Jorge E. Chavarro
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Emily Oken
- Division of Chronic Disease Research Across the Lifecourse, Department of Population Medicine, Harvard Medical School and Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Institute, Boston, Massachusetts
- Department of Nutrition, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
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13
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Fallara G, Pozzi E, Belladelli F, Boeri L, Capogrosso P, Corona G, D'Arma A, Alfano M, Montorsi F, Salonia A. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Impact of Infertility on Men's General Health. Eur Urol Focus 2024; 10:98-106. [PMID: 37573151 DOI: 10.1016/j.euf.2023.07.010] [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: 05/05/2023] [Revised: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/14/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Male infertility has been associated with increased morbidity and mortality. OBJECTIVE To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide the most critical evidence on the association between infertility and the risk of incident comorbidities in males. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION A systematic review and meta-analysis was performed according to the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology and Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses guidelines, and registered on PROSPERO. All published studies on infertile versus fertile men regarding overall mortality and risks of cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular events were selected from a database search on PubMed, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and Cochrane. Forest plot and quasi-individual patient data meta-analysis were used for pooled analyses. A risk of bias was assessed using the ROBINS-E tool. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Overall, an increased risk of death from any cause was found for infertile men (hazard risk [HR] 1.37, [95% confidence interval {CI} 1.04-1.81], p = 0.027), and a 30-yr survival probability of 91.0% (95% CI 89.6-92.4%) was found for infertile versus 95.9% (95% CI 95.3-96.4%) for fertile men (p < 0.001). An increased risk emerged of being diagnosed with testis cancer (relative risk [RR] 1.86 [95% CI 1.41-2.45], p < 0.001), melanoma (RR 1.30 [95% CI 1.08-1.56], p = 0.006), and prostate cancer (RR 1.66 [95% CI 1.06-2.61], p < 0.001). As well, an increased risk of diabetes (HR 1.39 [95% CI 1.09-1.71], p = 0.008), with a 30-yr probability of diabetes of 25.0% (95% CI 21.1-26.9%) for infertile versus 17.1% (95% CI 16.1-18.1%) for fertile men (p < 0.001), and an increased risk of cardiovascular events (HR 1.20 [95% CI 1.00-1.44], p = 0.049), with a probability of major cardiovascular events of 13.9% (95% CI 13.3-14.6%) for fertile versus 15.7% (95% CI 14.3-16.9%) for infertile men (p = 0.008), emerged. CONCLUSIONS There is statistical evidence that a diagnosis of male infertility is associated with increased risks of death and incident comorbidities. Owing to the overall high risk of bias, results should be interpreted carefully. PATIENT SUMMARY Male fertility is a proxy of general men's health and as such should be seen as an opportunity to improve preventive strategies for overall men's health beyond the immediate reproductive goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Fallara
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Department of Urology, IRCCS European Institute of Oncology (IEO), Milan, Italy
| | - Edoardo Pozzi
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Federico Belladelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Boeri
- Department of Urology, Foundation IRCCS Ca' Granda - Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Paolo Capogrosso
- Department of Urology and Andrology, Ospedale di Circolo and Macchi Foundation, Varese, Italy
| | - Giovanni Corona
- Medical Department, Endocrinology Unit, Azienda Usl, Maggiore-Bellaria Hospital, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alessia D'Arma
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Massimo Alfano
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Francesco Montorsi
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Andrea Salonia
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy.
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14
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Belladelli F, Muncey W, Eisenberg ML. Reproduction as a window for health in men. Fertil Steril 2023; 120:429-437. [PMID: 36642302 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.01.014] [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: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Male factor infertility is widely considered a harbinger for a man's general health. Failure of reproduction often accompanies other underlying processes, with growing evidence suggesting that a diagnosis of infertility increases the likelihood of developing future cardiac, metabolic, and oncologic diseases. The goal of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of the research on male fertility as a marker for current and future health. A multidisciplinary approach is essential, and there is growing consensus that the male fertility evaluation offers an opportunity to better men's wellness beyond their immediate reproductive ambitions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Belladelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology, URI, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy; Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Wade Muncey
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
| | - Michael L Eisenberg
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California.
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15
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Farland LV, Wang Y, Gaskins AJ, Rich‐Edwards JW, Wang S, Magnus MC, Chavarro JE, Rexrode KM, Missmer SA. Infertility and Risk of Cardiovascular Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2023; 12:e027755. [PMID: 36847044 PMCID: PMC10111453 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.122.027755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Background Certain symptoms associated with infertility are associated with cardiovascular disease, including menstrual cycle irregularity, early menopause, and obesity; however, few studies have investigated the association between infertility and cardiovascular disease risk. Methods and Results Participants in the NHSII (Nurses' Health Study II) who reported infertility (12 months of trying to conceive without success, including women who subsequently conceived) or who were gravid, with no infertility were followed from 1989 until 2017 for development of incident, physician-diagnosed coronary heart disease (CHD) (myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass grafting, angioplasty, stent) and stroke. Time-varying Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs and were adjusted a priori for potential confounding variables. Among 103 729 participants, 27.6% reported having ever experienced infertility. Compared with gravid women who had not reported infertility, women with a history of infertility had greater risk of CHD (HR, 1.13 [95% CI, 1.01-1.26]) but not stroke (HR, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.77-1.07]). The association between history of infertility and CHD was strongest among women who reported infertility at an earlier age (HR for infertility first reported at ≤25 years, 1.26 [95% CI, 1.09-1.46]; HR at 26-30 years, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.93-1.25]; HR at >30 years, 0.91 [95% CI, 0.70-1.19]). When we investigated specific infertility diagnoses, elevated risk of CHD was observed among women whose infertility was attributed to an ovulatory disorder (HR, 1.28 [95% CI, 1.05-1.55]) or endometriosis (HR, 1.42 [95% CI, 1.09-1.85]). Conclusions Women with infertility may be at an increased risk of CHD. Risk differed by age at first infertility diagnosis and was restricted to ovulatory- and endometriosis-related infertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie V. Farland
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public HealthUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZ
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, College of Medicine‐TucsonUniversity of ArizonaTucsonAZ
| | - Yi‐Xin Wang
- Department of NutritionHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
| | - Audrey J. Gaskins
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGA
| | - Janet W. Rich‐Edwards
- Department of EpidemiologyHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMA
| | - Siwen Wang
- Department of NutritionHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
| | | | - Jorge E. Chavarro
- Department of NutritionHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
- Department of EpidemiologyHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMA
| | - Kathryn M. Rexrode
- Department of EpidemiologyHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
- Division of Women’s Health, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s HospitalHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMA
| | - Stacey A. Missmer
- Department of EpidemiologyHarvard T.H. Chan School of Public HealthBostonMA
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Reproductive Biology, College of Human MedicineMichigan State UniversityGrand RapidsMI
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Belladelli F, Muncey W, Seranio N, Eisenberg ML. Counseling for the man with severe male infertility. Curr Opin Urol 2023; 33:5-9. [PMID: 36210761 DOI: 10.1097/mou.0000000000001047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review summarize the proper counseling for men with severe male factor infertility. RECENT FINDINGS Men who are experiencing infertility should have a semen analysis, the results of which may imply additional investigations, including genetic and hormonal. Moreover, possible modifiable factors that may harm men's reproductive health should be carefully evaluated. Finally, different treatment options are available. SUMMARY Approximately 15% of couples struggle with infertility. Complete evaluations of both men and women are required to determine the etiology of infertility and determine appropriate treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Belladelli
- Division of Experimental Oncology/Unit of Urology; URI; IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele
- University Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Wade Muncey
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nicolas Seranio
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Michael L Eisenberg
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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Gleason JL, Yeung EH. The best resources available highlight universal challenges in infertility research. Fertil Steril 2022; 118:548-549. [PMID: 36116803 DOI: 10.1016/j.fertnstert.2022.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jessica L Gleason
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Edwina H Yeung
- Epidemiology Branch, Division of Population Health Research, Division of Intramural Research, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, Bethesda, Maryland
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