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Liao CC, Lee CI, Liao KR, Li JM. Association between Serum Glycated Hemoglobin Levels and Female Infertility: A Cross-Sectional Survey and Genetic Approach. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:9668. [PMID: 39273615 PMCID: PMC11394857 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25179668] [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: 08/07/2024] [Revised: 09/03/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Female infertility affects a significant portion of the population, and recent studies suggest a potential link between glycemic control and reproductive health. This study investigates the association between serum glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels and female infertility, utilizing data from the NHANES 2017-2020 and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. A cross-sectional study was conducted with 1578 women aged 20-45 who attempted pregnancy for at least one year. Serum HbA1c levels were analyzed in relation to infertility status, with multivariable logistic regression models adjusting for covariates such as age, body mass index, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia. Higher HbA1c levels were significantly associated with increased infertility risk. Each 1% increase in HbA1c was linked to higher odds of infertility (adjusted OR: 1.40, 95% CI: 1.15-1.69, p = 0.003). HbA1c levels ≥ 6.5% showed the strongest association. MR analysis employed single-nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables to assess the causal relationship between HbA1c and infertility, confirming a causal relationship between higher genetically predicted HbA1c levels and infertility (OR: 1.82, 95% CI: 1.33-2.49, p = 0.00018). Sensitivity analyses supported the robustness of these findings. Elevated HbA1c levels are associated with an increased risk of female infertility, suggesting the importance of glycemic control in reproductive health management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Chih Liao
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung 41354, Taiwan
- Chuyuan Chinese Medicine Clinic, Taichung 40455, Taiwan
| | - Chun-I Lee
- Institute of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
- Division of Infertility, Lee Women's Hospital, Taichung 40652, Taiwan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40201, Taiwan
| | - Ke-Ru Liao
- Department of Neurology, Yuanlin Christian Hospital, Changhua 51052, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Miao Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40447, Taiwan
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Liao CC, Ku JC, Lin CL, Li JW, Tsai FJ, Li JM. Investigating causal relationships between extensive peripheral immune cell phenotypes and preeclampsia: A bi-directional Mendelian randomization analysis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 91:e13840. [PMID: 38606695 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13840] [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: 12/11/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Preeclampsia, a multifaceted condition during pregnancy characterized by hypertension and organ dysfunction, poses significant risks to both maternal and fetal health. This study aims to investigate the bidirectional causal relationship between peripheral immune cell phenotypes and preeclampsia using a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. METHOD OF STUDY Genetic data from two sizable cohorts were utilized: 3757 individuals from Sardinia, providing information on 731 immune traits, and 200 929 Finnish adult females, encompassing 6663 preeclampsia cases. Single-nucleotide polymorphisms served as instrumental variables. The MR analyses employed the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method as the primary tool, supplemented by MR-Egger, weighted median, and weighted mode methods to enhance reliability and address potential heterogeneity and horizontal pleiotropy. RESULTS Among the 731 immune cell phenotypes studied, 18 displayed a suggestive positive association (IVW p < .05) with heightened preeclampsia risk, while 20 exhibited a suggestive negative association linked to reduced risk. Following false discovery rate (FDR) adjustment, four immune phenotypes showed significant associations with decreased preeclampsia risk: CD27 on CD24+ CD27+ B cells (B-cell panel) (odds ratio [OR] = 0.927, PFDR = 0.061), CD33+ HLA DR+ CD14- absolute count (OR = 0.963, PFDR = 0.061), CD80 on plasmacytoid dendritic cells (OR = 0.923, PFDR = 0.061); and CD80 on CD62L+ plasmacytoid dendritic cells (OR = 0.923, PFDR = 0.061). In the reverse-direction MR analysis, no significant causal effects of preeclampsia on immune cell phenotypes were observed. CONCLUSIONS This study provides quantifiable evidence linking specific immune cell phenotypes to the risk of developing preeclampsia. This novel understanding of the immunological aspects underlying preeclampsia's pathogenesis could lead to innovative therapeutic strategies centered on immune modulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chung-Chih Liao
- Department of Post-Baccalaureate Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical and Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Chuyuan Chinese Medicine Clinic, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Chun Ku
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Li Lin
- Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Wan Li
- Anxin Postpartum Nursing Home, Lee Women's Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Fuu-Jen Tsai
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Division of Medical Genetics, China Medical University Children's Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jung-Miao Li
- School of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
- Department of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Zhu Y, Zhang H, Qi J, Liu Y, Yan Y, Wang T, Zeng P. Evaluating causal influence of maternal educational attainment on offspring birthweight via observational study and Mendelian randomization analyses. SSM Popul Health 2024; 25:101587. [PMID: 38229657 PMCID: PMC10790093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ssmph.2023.101587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Although extensive discussions on the influence of maternal educational attainment on offspring birthweight, the conclusion remains controversial, and it is challenging to comprehensively assess the causal association between them. Methods To estimate effect of maternal educational attainment on the birthweight of first child, we first conducted an individual-level analysis with UK Biobank participants of white ancestry (n = 208,162). We then implemented Mendelian randomization (MR) methods including inverse variance weighted (IVW) MR and multivariable MR to assess the causal relation between maternal education and maternal-specific birthweight. Finally, using the UK Biobank parent-offspring trio data (n = 618), we performed a polygenic score based MR to simultaneously adjust for confounding effects of fetal-specific birthweight and paternal educational attainment. We also conducted simulations for power evaluation and sensitivity analyses for horizontal pleiotropy of instruments. Results We observed that birthweight of first child was positively influenced by maternal education, with 7 years of maternal education as the reference, adjusted effect = 44.8 (95%CIs 38.0-51.6, P = 6.15 × 10-38), 54.9 (95%CIs 47.6-62.2, P = 4.21 × 10-128), and 89.4 (95%CIs 82.1-96.7, P = 4.28 × 10-34) for 10, 15 and 20 years of maternal educational attainment, respectively. A causal relation between maternal education and offspring birthweight was revealed by IVW MR (estimated effect = 0.074 for one standard deviation increase in maternal education years, 95%CIs 0.054-0.093, P = 2.56 × 10-13) and by complementary MR methods. This connection was not substantially affected by paternal education or horizontal pleiotropy. Further, we found a positive but insignificant causal association (adjusted effect = 24.0, 95%CIs -150.1-198.1, P = 0.787) between maternal education and offspring birthweight after simultaneously controlling for fetal genome and paternal education; this null causality was largely due to limited power of small sample sizes of parent-offspring trios. Conclusion This study offers supportive evidence for a causal association between maternal education and offspring birthweight, highlighting the significance of enhancing maternal education to prevent low birthweight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyang Zhu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Jike Qi
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
| | - Ping Zeng
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
- Center for Medical Statistics and Data Analysis, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
- Key Laboratory of Human Genetics and Environmental Medicine, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
- Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
- Xuzhou Engineering Research Innovation Center of Biological Data Mining and Healthcare Transformation, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
- Jiangsu Engineering Research Center of Biological Data Mining and Healthcare Transformation, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, China
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Rogne T, Gill D, Liew Z, Shi X, Stensrud VH, Nilsen TIL, Burgess S. Mediating Factors in the Association of Maternal Educational Level With Pregnancy Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Study. JAMA Netw Open 2024; 7:e2351166. [PMID: 38206626 PMCID: PMC10784860 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.51166] [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: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Importance Lower educational attainment is associated with increased risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes, but it is unclear which pathways mediate this association. Objective To investigate the association between educational attainment and pregnancy outcomes and the proportion of this association that is mediated through modifiable cardiometabolic risk factors. Design, Setting, and Participants In this 2-sample mendelian randomization (MR) cohort study, uncorrelated (R2 < 0.01) single-nucleotide variants (formerly single-nucleotide polymorphisms) associated with the exposure (P < 5 × 10-8) and mediators and genetic associations with the pregnancy outcomes from genome-wide association studies were extracted. All participants were of European ancestry and were largely from Finland, Iceland, the United Kingdom, or the US. The inverse variance-weighted method was used in the main analysis, and the weighted median, weighted mode, and MR Egger regression were used in sensitivity analyses. In mediation analyses, the direct effect of educational attainment estimated in multivariable MR was compared with the total effect estimated in the main univariable MR analysis. Data were extracted between December 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023. Exposure Genetically estimated educational attainment. The mediators considered were genetically estimated type 2 diabetes, body mass index, smoking, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and systolic blood pressure. Main Outcomes and Measures Ectopic pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, preterm birth, and offspring birth weight. Results The analyses included 3 037 499 individuals with data on educational attainment, and those included in studies on pregnancy outcomes ranged from 141 014 for ectopic pregnancy to 270 002 with data on offspring birth weight. Each SD increase in genetically estimated educational attainment (ie, 3.4 years) was associated with an increased birth weight of 42 (95% CI, 28-56) g and an odds ratio ranging from 0.53 (95% CI, 0.46-0.60) for ectopic pregnancy to 0.81 (95% CI, 0.71-0.93) for preeclampsia. The combined proportion of the association that was mediated by the 5 cardiometabolic risk factors ranged from -17% (95% CI, -46% to 26%) for hyperemesis gravidarum to 78% (95% CI, 10%-208%) for preeclampsia. Sensitivity analyses accounting for pleiotropy were consistent with the main analyses. Conclusions and Relevance In this MR cohort study, intervening for type 2 diabetes, body mass index, smoking, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and systolic blood pressure may lead to reductions in several adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with lower levels of education. Such public health interventions would serve to reduce health disparities attributable to social inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tormod Rogne
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Dipender Gill
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zeyan Liew
- Center for Perinatal, Pediatric and Environmental Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Xiaoting Shi
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Vilde Hatlevoll Stensrud
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tom Ivar Lund Nilsen
- Department of Public Health and Nursing, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
- Clinic of Anesthesia and Intensive Care, St Olav’s Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stephen Burgess
- Medical Research Council Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
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Szabó L, Boros J. Socio-economic differences among low-birthweight infants in Hungary. Results of the Cohort '18 -Growing Up in Hungary birth cohort study. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0291117. [PMID: 37656714 PMCID: PMC10473525 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0291117] [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: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND As Hungary had the fifth-highest rate of low-birthweight (LBW) in the EU27 in 2020, LBW still remains a public health problem for the country. OBJECTIVE Our goal is to examine whether LBW in Hungary is determined by the mothers' educational attainment, adjusted for other maternal characteristics (SES, health behaviour and psychological status during pregnancy) among mothers who gave birth in 2018-2019 in Hungary. METHODS Source of data is the first and second wave of the Cohort '18 -Growing Up in Hungary longitudinal birth cohort study (n = 8185). It is based on a nationwide representative sample of pregnant women who gave birth between March 2018 and April 2019. All data were self-reported by mothers. We examined the association between maternal educational attainment and the risk of giving birth to an LBW-child (<2500g) by using logistic regression analysis. The highest educational attainment of the mother is measured by a five-value categorical variable (ISCED 97: 0-1; 2; 3C; 3-4; 5-6). RESULTS 5.9% of women had LBW children. This rate is 18.0% among the lowest educated women with ISCED 97: 0-1; and it is 3.6% among the highest educated women with ISCED 97: 5-6. The adjusted predicted probabilities of LBW for these two groups of women are 13.5%, and 3.4% respectively, adjusted for household income quantiles, Roma ethnic background, residence place, smoking, alcohol consumption, and depression during pregnancy; controlled for mother's height, age at birth, parity and child's sex. Compared to women with the lowest level of education, the risk of giving birth to an LBW child decreases by 34.6% for those with the second level of education, by 60.1% for those with the third level of education, by 72.5% for those with the fourth level of education and by 77.2% for those with the highest level of education. Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of giving birth to an LBW by 54.9%. Being depressed at 7th month of pregnancy decreased the risk of giving birth to an LBW child in our sample by 13.2%, however the relationship is not significant. CONCLUSION Our analysis confirmed that maternal educational attainment has a significant impact on the risk of LBW net of by other maternal SES and health behaviour factors. Nevertheless, even after adjusting for these covariates, inequality in LBW by maternal educational attainment persists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Szabó
- Hungarian Demographic Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Julianna Boros
- Hungarian Demographic Research Institute, Budapest, Hungary
- Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary
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