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Conway F, Portela A, Filippi V, Chou D, Kovats S. Climate change, air pollution and maternal and newborn health: An overview of reviews of health outcomes. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04128. [PMID: 38785109 PMCID: PMC11117177 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04128] [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] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Climate change represents a fundamental threat to human health, with pregnant women and newborns being more susceptible than other populations. In this review, we aimed to describe the current landscape of available epidemiological evidence on key climate risks on maternal and newborn health (MNH). Methods We sought to identify published systematic and scoping reviews investigating the impact of different climate hazards and air pollution on MNH outcomes. With this in mind, we developed a systematic search strategy based on the concepts of 'climate/air pollution hazards, 'maternal health,' and 'newborn health,' with restrictions to reviews published between 1 January 2010 and 6 February 2023, but without geographical or language restriction. Following full text screening and data extraction, we synthesised the results using narrative synthesis. Results We found 79 reviews investigating the effects of climate hazards on MNH, mainly focussing on outdoor air pollution (n = 47, 59%), heat (n = 24, 30%), and flood/storm disasters (n = 7, 9%). Most were published after 2015 (n = 60, 76%). These reviews had consistent findings regarding the positive association of exposure to heat and to air pollution with adverse birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. We found limited evidence for impacts of climate-related food and water security on MNH and did not identify any reviews on climate-sensitive infectious diseases and MNH. Conclusions Climate change could undermine recent improvements in maternal and newborn health. Our review provides an overview of key climate risks to MNH. It could therefore be useful to the MNH community to better understand the MNH needs for each climate hazard and to strengthen discussions on evidence and research gaps and potential actions. Despite the lack of comprehensive evidence for some climate hazards and for many maternal, perinatal, and newborn outcomes, we observed repeated findings of the impact of heat and air pollutants on birth outcomes, particularly preterm birth. It is time for policy dialogue to follow to specifically design climate policy and actions to protect the needs of MNH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Conway
- World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Anayda Portela
- World Health Organization, Department of Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Veronique Filippi
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Doris Chou
- UNDP/UNFPA/UNICEF/WHO/The World Bank Special Programme of Research, Development and Research Training in Human Reproduction (HRP), World Health Organization, Department of Sexual and Reproductive Health, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sari Kovats
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Environmental Change and Health, London, United Kingdom
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Rancière F, Wafo O, Perrot X, Momas I. Associations between heat wave during pregnancy and term birth weight outcomes: The PARIS birth cohort. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 188:108730. [PMID: 38776654 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change will make extreme weather events more frequent in the 21st century. Extreme ambient temperatures during the prenatal period have been associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes such as preterm birth. It is unclear, however, whether heat waves during pregnancy impact fetal growth in apparently healthy term newborns. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate associations between heat wave during pregnancy and birth weight outcomes in term newborns from the PARIS birth cohort, and to explore meteorological conditions and air pollution as possible intermediate factors. METHODS We examined data on 3,359 newborns born between 37 and 42 weeks in Paris, France, between 2003 and 2006. Associations of maternal exposure to heat wave (during whole pregnancy and each trimester) with birth weight and small for gestational age (SGA) at term were studied using linear and logistic regression models adjusted for potential confounders. Maternal characteristics were investigated as possible modifiers. We explored the mediating role of ambient temperature, relative humidity, and air pollution levels in the relationship between heat wave during the first trimester and term SGA. RESULTS Mothers who were pregnant during the 2003 French heat wave (n = 506, 15 %) were more likely to have a term SGA baby (aOR = 2.70; 95 %CI: 1.38, 5.28) compared to mothers who did not experience heat wave during pregnancy. The association was stronger when heat wave occurred during the first trimester (aOR = 4.18; 95 %CI: 1.69, 10.35). Primiparous women were identified as more vulnerable than multiparous women. Average ambient temperature and air quality index explained about 36 % and 56 % of the association between heat wave during the first trimester and term SGA, respectively. CONCLUSIONS This study suggests prenatal exposure to heat wave, especially during the first trimester, may adversely affect fetal growth of term newborns, which could be explained by both increasing ambient temperatures and worsening air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanny Rancière
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1153 CRESS, Inrae, HERA team, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France.
| | - Octave Wafo
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1153 CRESS, Inrae, HERA team, Paris, France
| | - Xavier Perrot
- Laboratoire de Météorologie Dynamique, Ecole Normale Supérieure, CNRS, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Momas
- Université Paris Cité, Inserm U1153 CRESS, Inrae, HERA team, Paris, France; Faculté de Pharmacie de Paris, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France; Cellule Cohorte, Direction de l'Action Sociale de l'Enfance et de la Santé, Mairie de Paris, Paris, France
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Conklin MB, Wells BM, Doe EM, Strother AM, Tarasiewicz MEB, Via ER, Conrad LB, Farias-Eisner R. Understanding Health Disparities in Preeclampsia: A Literature Review. Am J Perinatol 2024; 41:e1291-e1300. [PMID: 36603833 DOI: 10.1055/a-2008-7167] [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] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Preeclampsia is a multifactorial pathology with negative outcomes in affected patients in both the peripartum and postpartum period. Black patients in the United States, when compared to their White and Hispanic counterparts, have higher rates of preeclampsia. This article aims to review the current literature to investigate how race, social determinants of health, and genetic profiles influence the prevalence and outcomes of patients with preeclampsia. Published studies utilized in this review were identified through PubMed using authors' topic knowledge and a focused search through a Medline search strategy. These articles were thoroughly reviewed to explore the contributing biosocial factors, genes/biomarkers, as well as negative outcomes associated with disparate rates of preeclampsia. Increased rates of contributing comorbidities, including hypertension and obesity, which are largely associated with low access to care in Black patient populations lead to disparate rates of preeclampsia in this population. Limited research shows an association between increased rate of preeclampsia in Black patients and specific APOL1, HLA-G, and PP13 gene polymorphisms as well as factor V Leiden mutations. Further research is required to understand the use of certain biomarkers in predicting preeclampsia within racial populations. Understanding contributing biosocial factors and identifying genes that may predispose high-risk populations may help to address the disparate rates of preeclampsia in Black patients as described in this review. Further research is required to understand if serum, placental, or urine biomarkers may be used to predict individuals at risk of developing preeclampsia in pregnancy. KEY POINTS: · Prevalence of preeclampsia in the U.S. is higher in Black patients compared to other racial groups.. · Patients with preeclampsia are at risk for poorer health outcomes both during and after delivery.. · Limited research suggests specific biomarkers or gene polymorphisms contribute to this difference; however, explanations for this disparity are multifactorial and further investigation is necessary..
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary B Conklin
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, New Brunswick, New Jersey
| | | | - Emily M Doe
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | | | | | - Emily R Via
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York
| | - Lesley B Conrad
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Lynch Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
| | - Robin Farias-Eisner
- School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- Lynch Comprehensive Cancer Research Center, School of Medicine, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska
- College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, California
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, David Geffen School of Medicine, the University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
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Teyton A, Ndovu A, Baer RJ, Bandoli G, Benmarhnia T. Disparities in the impact of heat wave definitions on emergency department visits during the first year of life among preterm and full-term infants in California. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 248:118299. [PMID: 38272297 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Heat waves will be aggravated due to climate change, making this a critical public health threat. However, heat wave definitions to activate alert systems can be ambiguous, highlighting the need to assess a range of definitions to identify those that contribute to the most adverse health outcomes. Additionally, children are highly susceptible to the impacts of heat waves, especially infants, despite the lack of focus on this subpopulation. We aimed to assess the relationship between 30 heat wave definitions and the first all-cause emergency department (ED) visits for California infants. We also examined modification of this relationship by preterm birth status and demographic characteristics to identify possible health disparities. METHODS Live-born, singleton deliveries from the Study of Outcomes in Mothers and Infants born in 2014-2018 were included. Thirty heat wave definitions were assessed based on temperature metrics (minimum/maximum temperatures), thresholds (90th; 92.5th; 95th; 97.5th; 99th percentiles), and duration (1-; 2-; 3-days). A time-stratified case-crossover design assessed heat wave impacts on ED visits using infants with a warm season ED visit (May-October) within the first year of life (n = 228,250). Effect modification by preterm birth status, age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, and delivery payment type was also investigated. RESULTS Infants demonstrated increased risk of an ED visit with exposure to all heat definitions. The 3-day minimum temperature 99th percentile definition had the highest adjusted odds ratio (AOR: 1.14; 95% CI: 1.05-1.23) for the total population. Term infants were more affected by some heat waves than preterm infants. Effect modification was additionally identified, such as by maternal education. DISCUSSION This study provides insight on the heat wave definitions that lead to adverse health outcomes and the identification of the most susceptible infants to these impacts, which has implications on heat-related interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anaïs Teyton
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; School of Public Health, San Diego State University, 5500 Campanile Dr, San Diego, CA, 92182, USA; Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 8885, Biological Grade, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA.
| | - Allan Ndovu
- University of California San Francisco School of Medicine, 533 Parnassus Ave, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Rebecca J Baer
- California Preterm Birth Initiative, University of California, San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, Flr. 9 Box 2930, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Gretchen Bandoli
- Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Human Longevity Science, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Tarik Benmarhnia
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 8885, Biological Grade, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
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LaPointe S, Mendola P, Lin S, Tian L, Bonell A, Adamba C, Palermo T. Impact of cash transfers on the association between prenatal exposures to high temperatures and low birthweight: Retrospective analysis from the LEAP 1000 study. BJOG 2024; 131:641-650. [PMID: 38238994 DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.17761] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/01/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To explore the associations between prenatal temperature exposures and low birthweight (LBW) and modification by cash transfer (CT) receipt. DESIGN Retrospective cohort study. SETTING Five rural districts in Northern Ghana. POPULATION OR SAMPLE A total of 3016 infants born to women interviewed as part of the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP 1000) impact evaluation between 2015 and 2017. METHODS Birthweight was collected using household surveys administered to LEAP 1000 eligible women. We used a UNICEF-developed multiple imputation approach to address missingness of birthweight and applied an empirical heaping correction to the multiply imputed birthweight data. Survey data were linked to the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis 5-hourly temperature averaged to weeks for 2011-2017 using community centroids. Using distributed-lag nonlinear models, we explored the lag-specific associations between weekly average temperatures greater than 30°C and LBW, and stratified by LEAP 1000 treatment. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Low birthweight (<2.5 kg). RESULTS Twelve percent (n = 365) of infants were LBW; the mean ± SD birthweight was 3.02 ± 0.37 kg. Overall, increasing temperatures were associated with increased odds of LBW, with the greatest odds observed in the 3 weeks before birth (odds ratio 1.005-1.025). These positive associations were even larger among comparison infants and null among treatment infants. CONCLUSIONS Our study found increased odds of LBW with high weekly average temperatures throughout pregnancy and the preconception period and demonstrate mitigated effects by the LEAP 1000 CT program. More evidence on the potential of CTs to serve as adaptation interventions in low- and middle-income countries is needed to protect pregnant persons and their infants from the impacts of climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah LaPointe
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Pauline Mendola
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, New York, USA
| | - Lili Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
| | - Ana Bonell
- Medical Research Council Unit, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, Banjul, The Gambia
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Clement Adamba
- School of Education and Leadership, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Tia Palermo
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, University at Buffalo, State University of New York, Buffalo, New York, USA
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Nyadanu SD, Dunne J, Tessema GA, Mullins B, Kumi-Boateng B, Bell ML, Duko B, Pereira G. Maternal exposure to ambient air temperature and adverse birth outcomes: An umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170236. [PMID: 38272077 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 12/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Multiple systematic reviews on prenatal ambient temperature and adverse birth outcomes exist, but the overall epidemiological evidence and the appropriate metric for thermal stress remain unclear. An umbrella review was performed to summarise and appraise the evidence with recommendations. METHODS Systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the associations between ambient temperature and adverse birth outcomes (preterm birth, stillbirth, birth weight, low birth weight, and small for gestational age) up to December 20, 2023, were synthesised according to a published protocol. Databases PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, MEDLINE/Ovid, EMBASE/Ovid, Web of Science Core Collection, systematic reviews repositories, electronic grey literature, and references were searched. Risk of bias was assessed using Joanna Briggs Institute's critical appraisal tool. RESULTS Eleven systematic reviews, including two meta-analyses, were included. This comprised 90 distinct observational studies that employed multiple temperature assessment metrics with a very high overlap of primary studies. Primary studies were mostly from the United States while both Africa and South Asia contributed only three studies. A majority (7 out of 11) of the systematic reviews were rated as moderate risk of bias. All systematic reviews indicated that maternal exposures to both extremely high and low temperatures, particularly during late gestation are associated with increased risks of preterm birth, stillbirth, and reduced fetal growth. However, due to great differences in the exposure assessments, high heterogeneity, imprecision, and methodological limitations of the included systematic reviews, the overall epidemiological evidence was classified as probable evidence of causation. No study assessed biothermal metrics for thermal stress. CONCLUSIONS Despite the notable methodological differences, prenatal exposure to extreme ambient temperatures, particularly during late pregnancy, was associated with adverse birth outcomes. Adhering to the appropriate systematic review guidelines for environmental health research, incorporating biothermal metrics into exposure assessment, evidence from broader geodemographic settings, and interventions are recommended in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; Education, Culture, and Health Opportunities (ECHO) Ghana, ECHO Research Group International, P. O. Box 424, Aflao, Ghana.
| | - Jennifer Dunne
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Gizachew A Tessema
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Ben Mullins
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Bernard Kumi-Boateng
- Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
| | - Michelle L Bell
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA
| | - Bereket Duko
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Gavin Pereira
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; WHO Collaborating Centre for Climate Change and Health Impact Assessment, Faculty of Health Science, Curtin University, WA, Australia
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Khosravipour M, Golbabaei F. Short-term ambient temperature variations and incidence of preterm birth: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2024; 256:114319. [PMID: 38171266 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114319] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 12/23/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
This study aimed to determine the short-term effects of ambient temperature variations exposures on the incidence of preterm birth (PTB) for each single lag day (lag0 to lag6) and cumulative lag days (lag0-1 to lag0-6) up to a week before birth. To find relevant publications, online databases, including Web of Science, PubMed, and Scopus were searched with appropriate keywords and Mesh terms from their inception to October 25, 2023. Overall, the number of 39 observational studies with 12.5 million pregnant women and 700.000 cases of PTB met our eligibility criteria. The associations of temperature variations with the incidence of PTB were investigated with two different meta-analyses, including the percentile meta-analysis (comparing different percentiles (P1 to P99) with a referent percentile (P50)), and the linear meta-analysis (per 5 °C increment of the temperature levels). For the percentile meta-analysis, we observed both extreme cold (P1, only lag 0) and heat (P95 and P99 with the highest risk at lag1 and lag0-6) exposures can be significantly associated with a higher risk of PTB. The pooled RR (95 % CI) per 5 °C increase in the temperature levels at lag0-6 was estimated as 1.038 (1.018, 1.058) for the overall analysis. Subgroup analysis based on the season shows a significant association in the warm season (RR = 1.082 and 95 % CI = 1.036, 1.128) at all lag days but not the cold season. For the single lag day, we observed the risk of PTB is the highest at lag1 and decreased with moving to lag6. In sum, we suppose there is a nearly V-shape non-linear association between air temperature levels and the incidence of PTB with the linear relationship for each unit increase (also decrease) in the temperature levels above (also below) moderate temperature limits. Future studies should investigate possible association of occupational heat and cold exposure during pregnancy on the incidence of adverse birth outcomes such as PTB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoud Khosravipour
- Occupational Health Engineering Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Farideh Golbabaei
- Occupational Health Engineering Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Youssim I, Erez O, Novack L, Nevo D, Kloog I, Raz R. Ambient temperature and preeclampsia: A historical cohort study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117107. [PMID: 37696321 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117107] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Previous studies found inconsistent associations between ambient temperature during pregnancy and the risk of preeclampsia. If such associations are causal, they may impact the future burden of preeclampsia in the context of climate change. We used a historical cohort of 129,009 pregnancies (5074 preeclampsia cases) from southern Israel that was merged with temperature assessments from a hybrid satellite-based exposure model. Distributed-lag and cause-specific hazard models were employed to study time to all preeclampsia cases, followed by stratification according to early (≤34 weeks) and late (>34 weeks) onset disease and identify critical exposure periods. We found a positive association between temperature and preeclampsia during gestation, which was stronger in the 3rd trimester. For example, during week 33, compared to the reference temperature of 22.4 °C, the cause-specific hazard ratio (HRCS) of preeclampsia was 1.01 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.01-1.02) when exposed to 30 °C, 1.05 (95%CI: 1.03-1.08) at 35 °C, and 1.07 (95%CI: 1.04-1.10) at 37 °C. The associations existed with both early- and late-onset preeclampsia; however, the associations with the early-onset disease were somewhat stronger, limited to the first weeks of pregnancy and the third trimester, and with larger confidence intervals. The HRCS for early preeclampsia onset, when exposed to 37 °C compared to 22.4 °C during week 33, was 1.12 (95%CI: 0.96-1.30), and for late-onset preeclampsia, the HRCS was 1.09 (95%CI: 1.05-1.13). To conclude, exposure to high temperatures at the beginning and, particularly, the end of gestation is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia in southern Israel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iaroslav Youssim
- Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel.
| | - Offer Erez
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Israel; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hutzel Women's Hospital, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Lena Novack
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Israel, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Daniel Nevo
- Department of Statistics and Operations Research, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Itai Kloog
- The Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
| | - Raanan Raz
- Braun School of Public Health and Community Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
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Mao Y, Gao Q, Zhang Y, Yue Y, Ruan T, Yang Y, Xiong T. Associations between extreme temperature exposure and hypertensive disorders in pregnancy: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Hypertens Pregnancy 2023; 42:2288586. [PMID: 38053322 DOI: 10.1080/10641955.2023.2288586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy (HDP) are a major cause of maternal mortality and morbidity. Recent studies indicated that pregnant women are the most vulnerable populations to ambient temperature influences, but it affected HDP with inconsistent conclusions. Our objective is to systematically review whether extreme temperature exposure is associated with a changed risk for HDP. METHOD We searched PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases. We included cohort or case control studies examining the association between extreme temperature exposure before or during pregnancy and HDP. Heat sources such as saunas and hot baths were excluded. We pooled the odds ratio (OR) to assess the association between extreme temperature exposure and preeclampsia or eclampsia. RESULTS Fifteen studies involving 4,481,888 patients were included. Five studies were included in the meta-analysis. The overall result demonstrated that in the first half of pregnancy, heat exposure increases the risk of developing preeclampsia or eclampsia and gestational hypertension, and cold exposure decreases the risk. The meta-analysis revealed that during the first half of pregnancy, heat exposure increased the risk of preeclampsia or eclampsia (OR 1.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 2.15), whereas cold exposure decreased the risk (OR 0.90, 95% CI: 0.84, 0.97). CONCLUSION The ambient temperature is an important determinant for the development of HDP, especially for preeclampsia or eclampsia. The effects of extreme temperatures may be bidirectional during the different trimesters of pregnancy, which should be evaluated by future studies. This review provided hints of temperature regulation in HDP administration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanxia Mao
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qian Gao
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Yan Yue
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tiechao Ruan
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Department of Pediatric otolaryngology head and neck surgery, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Tao Xiong
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children (Sichuan University) Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
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Ling X. The effect of ambient air pollution on birth outcomes in Norway. BMC Public Health 2023; 23:2248. [PMID: 37964290 PMCID: PMC10647155 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-023-16957-1] [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: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ambient air pollution can be harmful to the fetus even in countries with relatively low levels of pollution. Most of the established literature estimates the association between air pollution and health rather than causality. In this paper, I examine the causal effects of ambient air pollution on birth outcomes in Norway. METHODS With the large sample size and geographic division of sub-postal codes in Norway, I can control for a rich set of spatio-temporal fixed effects to overcome most of the endogeneity problems caused by the choice of residential area and date of delivery. After controlling for a rich set of spatio-temporal fixed effects, my paper uses the variance in ambient air pollutant concentrations over narrow time intervals and in a small geographic area of Norway to determine how prenatal air pollution exposure affects birth outcomes. My data contain extensive information about parents as well as meteorological conditions that can be used to control for potential confounding factors. RESULTS I find that prenatal exposure to ambient nitric oxide in the last trimester causes significant birth weight and birth length loss under the same sub-postcode fixed effects and calendar month fixed effects, whereas other ambient air pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide appear to be at safe levels for the fetus in Norway. In addition, the marginal adverse effect of ambient nitric oxide is larger for newborns with disadvantaged parents. Both average concentrations of nitric oxide and occasional high concentration events can adversely affect birth outcomes. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal exposure to NO pollution has an adverse effect on birth outcomes. This suggests that government and researchers should pay more attention to examining NO pollution and that health care providers need to advise pregnant women about the risks of air pollution during pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoguang Ling
- Department of Economics, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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11
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Das S, Sagar S, Chowdhury S, Akter K, Haq MZ, Hanifi SMA. The risk of miscarriage is associated with ambient temperature: evidence from coastal Bangladesh. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1238275. [PMID: 38026421 PMCID: PMC10656765 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1238275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to high ambient temperature is reported to cause adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, considering myriad temperature and climatic conditions as well as different contextual factors, the paucity of studies from the developing regions impedes the development of a clear understanding of the heat-pregnancy outcome relationship. Materials and methods This study was conducted in Chakaria, a coastal region of Bangladesh, where International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b) administers a health and demographic surveillance system (HDSS). The surveillance workers visit the households every three months as a part of the routine surveillance activity. Between 2012 and 2020, the surveillance workers documented histories of 23,482 pregnancies among 13,376 women and the women were followed up for their pregnancy outcomes. The temperature records were obtained from the Bangladesh Meteorological Department's weather station at Cox's Bazar. The dates of pregnancy outcome were linked with the daily average temperature on the day of pregnancy outcome. A logistic regression model was employed to examine the relationship between temperature and the incidence of miscarriage. Results Out of 23,482 pregnancy outcomes, 3.7% were induced abortions. Among the remaining 22,624 pregnancy outcomes, 86.2% were live births, 10.7% were miscarriages and 3.1% were stillbirths. Miscarriages peaked between 8-14 weeks of gestation and varied according to temperature. For women exposed to temperatures between 28°C and 32°C, the risk of miscarriage was 25% greater (adjusted OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.07-1.47) compared to those exposed to temperatures from 16°C to 21°C. Conclusion The study establishes a connection between miscarriage and high ambient temperatures in a coastal region of Bangladesh. Implementing timely and appropriate adaptation strategies to prevent miscarriages is of paramount importance for a densely populated country like Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Das
- Health Systems and Population Studies Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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12
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Gordon M, Casey JA, McBrien H, Gemmill A, Hernández D, Catalano R, Chakrabarti S, Bruckner T. Disparities in preterm birth following the July 1995 Chicago heat wave. Ann Epidemiol 2023; 87:S1047-2797(23)00166-7. [PMID: 37678645 PMCID: PMC10842513 DOI: 10.1016/j.annepidem.2023.08.008] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 08/20/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To evaluate if changes in preterm birth (PTB, <37 weeks of gestation) incidence differed between non-Hispanic (NH) Black and NH white births following the July 1995 Chicago heat wave-among the most severe U.S. heat waves since 1950. METHODS We used an ecologic study design. We obtained birth data from January 1990-December 1996 from the National Vital Statistics File to calculate the mean monthly PTB incidence in Chicago's Cook County, Illinois. Births between July 1995 and February 1996 were potentially exposed to the heat wave in utero. We generated time series models for NH Black and NH white births, which incorporated synthetic controls of Cook County based on unexposed counties. We ran a secondary analysis considering socioeconomic status (SES). RESULTS From 1990-1996, the mean monthly PTB incidence among NH Black births was 18.6% compared to 7.8% among NH white births. The mean monthly PTB incidence among NH Black births from August 1995-January 1996 was 16.7% higher than expected (three additional PTBs per 100 live births per month [95% confidence interval (CI): 1, 5]). A similar increase occurred among low-SES NH Black births. No increase appeared among NH white births. CONCLUSIONS Severe heat waves may increase racial disparities in PTB incidence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milo Gordon
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Joan A Casey
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY; Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA
| | - Heather McBrien
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Alison Gemmill
- Department of Population, Family, and Reproductive Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - Diana Hernández
- Sociomedical Sciences Department, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY
| | - Ralph Catalano
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley
| | | | - Tim Bruckner
- Program in Public Health, University of California, Irvine.
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Cowell W, Ard N, Herrera T, Medley EA, Trasande L. Ambient temperature, heat stress and fetal growth: A review of placenta-mediated mechanisms. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2023; 576:112000. [PMID: 37460007 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2023.112000] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
Pregnancy is increasingly considered a period of vulnerability for extreme heat exposure. Multiple lines of evidence support that heat stress is associated with placental insufficiency, poor fetal growth and decreased birth weight. In this narrative review, we first summarize evidence linking ambient temperature or experimentally-induced heat stress with fetal and placental growth outcomes in humans, ruminants and murine species. We then synthesize the literature on putative underlying biological pathways with a focus on the placenta. Reviewed mechanisms include: reduced uterine-placental blood flow, impaired supply of metabolic substrates to the fetus, activation of the maternal stress-response system, and disruption of other endocrine and immune system endpoints. Taken together, this body of evidence supports that exposure to extreme ambient heat likely has adverse consequences for placental development and function. However, research investigating placenta-mediated pathophysiological mechanisms in humans remains extremely limited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Whitney Cowell
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Natasha Ard
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Teresa Herrera
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Eleanor A Medley
- Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Leonardo Trasande
- Department of Pediatrics, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA; Department of Population Health, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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Lokmic-Tomkins Z, Bhandari D, Watterson J, Pollock WE, Cochrane L, Robinson E, Su TT. Multilevel interventions as climate change adaptation response to protect maternal and child health: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e073960. [PMID: 37500279 PMCID: PMC10387736 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-073960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Growing evidence suggests that climate change-related extreme weather events adversely impact maternal and child health (MCH) outcomes, which requires effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate interventions at individual, community and policy levels to minimise these impacts. This scoping review proposes to map the evidence available on the type, characteristics and outcomes of multilevel interventions implemented as adaptational strategies to protect MCH from the possible adverse effects of climate change. METHODS The following databases will be searched: Embase, MEDLINE, Emcare, EPPI-Centre database of health promotion research (BiblioMap) EPPI-Centre Database for promoting Health Effectiveness Reviews (DoPHER), Global Health, CINAHL, Joanna Briggs Institute EBP Database, Maternity and Infant Care Database, Education Resource Information Center, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and Global Index Medicus, which indexes Latin America and the Caribbean, Index Medicus for the South-East Asia Region, African Index Medicus, Western Pacific Region Index Medicus. Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov, conference proceedings, thesis and dissertations, policy and guidelines and their reference lists will also be searched. Two reviewers will independently screen titles and abstracts and full text based on predefined eligibility criteria. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews using the Population, Concept and Context framework and the Template for Intervention Description and Replication checklist will be used to structure and report the findings. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION Ethics permission to conduct the scoping review is not required as the information collected is publicly available through databases. Findings will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication and conference presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zerina Lokmic-Tomkins
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dinesh Bhandari
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jessica Watterson
- Department of Human-Centred Computing, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Wendy E Pollock
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lindy Cochrane
- Brownless Biomedical Library, The University of Melbourne - Parkville Campus, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Eddie Robinson
- School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Tin Tin Su
- South East Asia Community Observatory (SEACO), Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University - Malaysia Campus, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia
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15
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Wu Y, Ye H, Yuan Y, Kong C, Jing W, Liu J, Liu M. Association between season of conception, month of conception with preterm birth in China: a population-based retrospective cohort study. Reprod Health 2023; 20:88. [PMID: 37312160 DOI: 10.1186/s12978-023-01636-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Seasonal patterns of preterm birth were identified in previous studies, but the effect of conception season on preterm birth has not been extensively studied. Based on the notion that the etiological roots of preterm birth lie in the beginning of pregnancy, we did a population-based retrospective cohort study in Southwest China to examine the effects of season of conception and month of conception on preterm birth. METHODS We did a population-based retrospective cohort study in women (aged 18-49) who participated in the NFPHEP from 2010 to 2018, and had a singleton livebirth in southwest China. According to the time of the last menstruation reported by the participants, month of conception and season of conception were then ascertained. We used multivariate log-binomial model to adjust the potential risk factors for preterm birth and obtained adjusted risk ratio (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) for conception season, conception month and preterm birth. RESULTS Among 194 028 participants, 15 034 women had preterm birth. Compared with pregnancies that were conceived in the summer, pregnancies that were conceived in the spring, autumn and winter had the higher risk of preterm birth (Spring: aRR = 1.10, 95% CI: 1.04-1.15; Autumn: aRR = 1.14, 95% CI: 1.09-1.20; Winter: aRR = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.22-1.34) and also had a higher risk of early preterm birth (Spring: aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.18; Autumn: aRR = 1.09, 95% CI: 1.01-1.19; Winter: aRR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.08-1.25). Pregnancies in December, and January had a higher risk of preterm birth and early preterm birth than pregnancies that were conceived in July. CONCLUSIONS Our study found that preterm birth was significantly related to season of conception. Preterm and early preterm birth rates were the highest among pregnancies that were conceived in winter, and the lowest among pregnancies in summer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanfeng Ye
- Yunnan Population and Family Planning Research Institute, No. 146, Qingnian Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Yanling Yuan
- Yunnan Population and Family Planning Research Institute, No. 146, Qingnian Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Cai Kong
- Yunnan Population and Family Planning Research Institute, No. 146, Qingnian Road, Wuhua District, Kunming, 650021, Yunnan, China
| | - Wenzhan Jing
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Jue Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatics, School of Public Health, Peking University, No. 38, Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, People's Republic of China.
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Baharav Y, Nichols L, Wahal A, Gow O, Shickman K, Edwards M, Huffling K. The Impact of Extreme Heat Exposure on Pregnant People and Neonates: A State of the Science Review. J Midwifery Womens Health 2023; 68:324-332. [PMID: 37218676 DOI: 10.1111/jmwh.13502] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Revised: 04/10/2023] [Accepted: 04/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
The relationship between heat exposure and perinatal morbidity and mortality is of increasing concern as global temperatures rise and extreme heat events become more frequent and intense. Heat exposure can lead to a multitude of harmful outcomes for pregnant individuals and neonates, including hospitalization and death. This state of the science review explored the evidence on the associations between heat exposure and negative health outcomes during pregnancy and the neonatal period. Findings suggest that improving health care provider and patient awareness of heat-related risks and implementing specific interventions could mitigate adverse outcomes. Furthermore, public health and other policy interventions are needed to increase thermal comfort and reduce societal exposure to extreme heat and related risks. Early warning systems, medical alerts, provider and patient education, and increased access to health care and thermal comfort may improve pregnancy and early life health outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuval Baharav
- Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Lilly Nichols
- Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, Washington, District of Columbia
- Department of Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Anya Wahal
- Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Owen Gow
- Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Kurt Shickman
- Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Maya Edwards
- Adrienne Arsht-Rockefeller Foundation Resilience Center, Atlantic Council, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Katie Huffling
- Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Mount Rainier, Maryland
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Iglesias Pastrana C, Navas González FJ, Delgado Bermejo JV, Ciani E. Lunar Cycle, Climate, and Onset of Parturition in Domestic Dromedary Camels: Implications of Species-Specific Metabolic Economy and Social Ecology. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:biology12040607. [PMID: 37106807 PMCID: PMC10136027 DOI: 10.3390/biology12040607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023]
Abstract
Given energy costs for gestating and caring for male offspring are higher than those of female newborns, external environmental conditions might be regarded as likely to affect the timing of delivery processes differentially depending on the sex of the newborn calf to be delivered. The aim of the present paper is to evaluate the association between environmental stressors such as the moon phase and weather-related factors and the onset of labor in female dromedaries. A binary logistic regression model was developed to find the most parsimonious set of variables that are most effective in predicting the probability for a gravid female dromedary to give birth to a male or a female calf, assuming that higher gestational costs and longer labor times are ascribed to the production of a male offspring. Although the differences in the quantitative distribution of spontaneous onset of labor across lunar phases and the mean climate per onset event along the whole study period were deemed nonsignificant (p > 0.05), a non-negligible prediction effect of a new moon, mean wind speed and maximum wind gust was present. At slightly brighter nights and lower mean wind speeds, a calf is more likely to be male. This microevolutionary response to the external environment may have been driven by physiological and behavioral adaptation of metabolic economy and social ecology to give birth to cooperative groups with the best possible reduction of thermoregulatory demands. Model performance indexes then highlighted the heterothermic character of camels to greatly minimize the impact of the external environment. The overall results will also enrich the general knowledge of the interplay between homeostasis and arid and semi-arid environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Iglesias Pastrana
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, University of Córdoba, 14014 Córdoba, Spain
| | | | | | - Elena Ciani
- Department of Biosciences, Biotechnologies and Environment, University of Bari 'Aldo Moro', 70125 Bari, Italy
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18
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Elias C, Nogueira PJ, Sousa P. Preterm birth characteristics and outcomes in Portugal, between 2010 and 2018-A cross-sectional sequential study. Health Sci Rep 2023; 6:e1054. [PMID: 36846533 PMCID: PMC9945543 DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1054] [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: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction According to the World Health Organization, 11% of all children are born prematurely, representing 15 million births annually. An extensive analysis on preterm birth, from extreme to late prematurity and associated deaths, has not been published. The authors characterize premature births in Portugal, between 2010 and 2018, according to gestational age, geographic distribution, month, multiple gestations, comorbidities, and outcomes. Methods A sequential, cross-sectional, observational epidemiologic study was conducted, and data were collected from the Hospital Morbidity Database, an anonymous administrative database containing information on all hospitalizations in National Health Service hospitals in Portugal, and coded according to the ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Diseases), until 2016, and ICD-10 subsequently. Data from the National Institute of Statistics was utilized to compare the Portuguese population. Data were analyzed using R software. Results In this 9-year study, 51.316 births were preterm, representing an overall prematurity rate of 7.7%. Under 29 weeks, birth rates varied between 5.5% and 7.6%, while births between 33 and 36 weeks varied between 76.9% and 81.0%. Urban districts presented the highest preterm rates. Multiple births were 8× more likely preterm and accounted for 37%-42% of all preterm births. Preterm birth rates slightly increased in February, July, August, and October. Overall, respiratory distress syndrome (RDS), sepsis, and intraventricular hemorrhage were the most common morbidities. Preterm mortality rates varied significantly with gestational age. Conclusion In Portugal, 1 in 13 babies was born prematurely. Prematurity was more common in predominantly urban districts, a surprise finding that warrants further studies. Seasonal preterm variation rates also require further analysis and modelling to factor in heat waves and low temperatures. A decrease in the case rate of RDS and sepsis was observed. Compared with previously published results, preterm mortality per gestational age decreased; however, further improvements are attainable in comparison with other countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília Elias
- Unidade de Saúde Publica Francisco GeorgeACES Lisboa Norte, ARSLVTLisboaPortugal,EPI Task‐Force FMUL, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Paulo Jorge Nogueira
- EPI Task‐Force FMUL, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal,NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRCNOVA University LisbonLisbonPortugal,Instituto de Medicina Preventiva e Saúde Pública, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal,Área Disciplinar Autónoma de Bioestatística (Laboratório de Biomatemática), Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal,Instituto de Saúde Ambiental, Faculdade de MedicinaUniversidade de LisboaLisboaPortugal
| | - Paulo Sousa
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRCNOVA University LisbonLisbonPortugal
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Sakali AK, Papagianni M, Bargiota A, Rasic-Markovic A, Macut D, Mastorakos G. Environmental factors affecting pregnancy outcomes. Endocrine 2023; 80:459-469. [PMID: 36729371 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-023-03307-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Pregnancy represents a fragile period in the life of a woman, vulnerable to hazardous environmental substances which might affect maternal and fetal metabolism. The possible influence of environmental factors, including endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs), upon the mother and the fetus before and/or during pregnancy might be associated directly and/or indirectly to deleterious pregnancy outcomes. Because the existence of such associations would be, to our view, of major importance to the scientific community, their investigation is the scope of this critical review. METHODS This critical review includes in vivo animal and human studies regarding the role of environmental factors, including EDCs, on pregnancy outcomes complying with the SANRA (a scale for the quality assessment of narrative review articles) questions for narrative reviews. Studies were identified by searching the MEDLINE (PubMed and PubMed Central), the Cochrane library and the Google Scholar databases till October 2022 with the combinations of the appropriate key words (detailed environmental factors including EDCs AND detailed negative pregnancy outcomes) as well as by scanning references from already included articles and relevant reviews manually. Because environmental factors and EDCs have been associated to epigenetic alterations, special care has been given to EDC-induced transgenerational effects on pregnancy outcomes. RESULTS The existing evidence suggests positive associations between specific environmental factors and negative pregnancy outcomes such as ectopic pregnancies, pregnancy losses, gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preterm births, birth defects, intrauterine growth restriction, and small or large for gestational age babies. CONCLUSION Environmental factors and EDCs may have a catalytic effect on the course and the outcomes of pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasia-Konstantina Sakali
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Maria Papagianni
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Physical Education and Sport Science and Dietetics, University of Thessaly, Trikala, Greece
- Endocrine Unit, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Hippokration Hospital of Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
| | - Alexandra Bargiota
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, Larissa University Hospital, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Aleksandra Rasic-Markovic
- Institute of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Visegradska 26, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Djuro Macut
- Clinic for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolic Diseases, University Clinical Centre of Serbia, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia
| | - George Mastorakos
- Unit of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Metabolism, Aretaieion Hospital, Athens Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
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Kruezi E, Habek D, Luetić A, Marton I, Prka M, Srnec L, Plačko-Vršnak D, Košec V, Kuna K. IS THERE A RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COMPLICATIONS OF EARLY PREGNANCY AND BIOMETEOROLOGICAL FORECAST? Acta Clin Croat 2022; 61:629-635. [PMID: 37868180 PMCID: PMC10588383 DOI: 10.20471/acc.2022.61.04.09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/30/2021] [Indexed: 10/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of our study was to connect the possible complications of early pregnancy (miscarriage and symptomatic ectopic pregnancy) up to the 12th week of gestation with biometeorological conditions while assuming a greater number of incidents with an unfavorable biometeorological forecast. We performed a retrospective observational study using medical data of a single medical center of Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sveti Duh University Hospital and meteorological data from the Croatian Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Service in Zagreb. We tracked the number of visits to the gynecology and obstetrics emergency unit on a daily basis during 2017. Days with five or more visits were selected and underwent further analysis, during which the number of miscarriages and symptomatic ectopic pregnancies was noted. The information from the biometeorological forecast was then extracted and added to the database. Our results did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups determined by biometeorological forecast in the number of spontaneous abortions or ectopic pregnancy. Also, statistically significant results did not follow the expected trend of the increasing number of complications related to worse biometeorological forecast, or vice versa, a decreased number of complications with better forecast. Our single-center retrospective analysis of emergency unit visits related to weather conditions did not show a connection between the complications of early pregnancy and biometeorological conditions. However, different results could emerge in future studies. Considering the large and high-quality database collected for this study, efforts in researching the connection between other gynecologic pathologies and weather conditions will be feasible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Egon Kruezi
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Dubravko Habek
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ana Luetić
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Ingrid Marton
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Matija Prka
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Lidija Srnec
- Croatian Meteorological and Hydrometeorological Service, Zagreb, Croatia
| | | | - Vesna Košec
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Krunoslav Kuna
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Sestre milosrdnice University Hospital Center, Zagreb, Croatia
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21
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Requia WJ, Koutrakis P, Papatheodorou S. The association of maternal exposure to ambient temperature with low birth weight in term pregnancies varies by location: In Brazil, positive associations may occur only in the Amazon region. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113923. [PMID: 35863440 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to ambient temperature has been linked to adverse birth outcomes in several regions, including the USA, Australia, China, countries in the Middle East, and European countries. To date, no studies were performed in South America, a region with serious challenges related to climate change. Our investigation addresses this literature lack by examining the association between Low Birth Weight (LBW) and ambient temperature exposure in the largest county in South America, Brazil. We applied a nationwide case-control study design using a logistic regression model to estimate the odds ratio (OR) for LBW associated with ambient temperature during a specific trimester of pregnancy (1-3 trimester). Our sample size includes 5,790,713 birth records nationwide over 18 years (2001-2018), of which 264,967 infants were included in the model as cases of LBW, representing 4.6% of our total sample. We adjusted our model for several confounding variables, including weather factors, air pollution, seasonality, and SES variables at the individual level. Our findings indicate that North was the only region with positive and statistically significant associations in the primary analysis and most of the sensitivity analysis, which is the region where the Amazon is located. In this region, we estimated an increase of 5.16% (95%CI: 3.60; 6.74) in the odds of LBW per 1 °C increase in apparent temperature when the exposure occurred in the second trimester. Our results may be explained by the climate conditions in the Amazon region in the past years. A large body of literature indicates that the Amazon region has been facing serious climate challenges including issues related to policy, governance, and deforestation. Specifically, regarding deforestation, it is suggested that land use change and deforestation is projected to increase heat stress in the Amazon region, because of Amazon savannization, increasing the risk of heat stress exposure in Northern Brazil. Our study can assist public sectors and clinicians in mitigating the risk and vulnerability of the Amazonian population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weeberb J Requia
- School of Public Policy and Government, Fundação Getúlio Vargas Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
| | - Petros Koutrakis
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Boston, Massachusetts, United States
| | - Stefania Papatheodorou
- Department of Environmental Health, Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health Boston, Massachusetts, United States
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22
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Cil G, Kim J. Extreme temperatures during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: Evidence from 2009 to 2018 U.S. national birth data. HEALTH ECONOMICS 2022; 31:1993-2024. [PMID: 35751786 DOI: 10.1002/hec.4559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We provide the first estimates of the impacts of prenatal exposure to extreme temperatures on infant health at birth using the latest national birth data from 2009 to 2018 from all U.S. states. We consistently find that an additional day with mean temperature greater than 80°F or less than 10°F increases preterm births and low birthweight. Strikingly, the adverse effects are borne disproportionately by Black and Hispanic mothers, suggesting that the projected increase in extreme temperatures may further exacerbate the existing birth health disparities across different race/ethnicity groups. We also contribute by investigating the impact of deviations from the normal weather pattern, to identify the extreme weather events after accounting for the adaptation response. We find that prenatal exposure to extreme heat two standard deviations above county's historic average induces preterm births and NICU admissions, particularly for mothers whose pregnancies overlap with summer months. These results are timely and policy relevant, considering the recent weather trends with rising temperatures and frequent extreme weather events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gulcan Cil
- Oregon Research Institute, Eugene, Oregon, USA
- Department of Economics, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon, USA
| | - Jiyoon Kim
- Department of Economics, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania, USA
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23
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Bakhtsiyarava M, Ortigoza A, Sánchez BN, Braverman-Bronstein A, Kephart JL, Rodríguez López S, Rodríguez J, Diez Roux AV. Ambient temperature and term birthweight in Latin American cities. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 167:107412. [PMID: 35870377 PMCID: PMC9376808 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme temperatures may lead to adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, including low birthweight. Studies on the impact of temperature on birthweight have been inconclusive due to methodological challenges related to operationalizing temperature exposure, the definitions of exposure windows, accounting for gestational age, and a limited geographic scope. METHODS We combined data on individual-level term live births (N≈15 million births) from urban areas in Brazil, Chile, and Mexico from 2010 to 2015 from the SALURBAL study (Urban Health in Latin America) with high-resolution daily air temperature data and computed average ambient temperature for every month of gestation for each newborn. Associations between full-term birthweight and average temperature during gestation were analyzed using multi-level distributed lag non-linear models that adjusted for newborn's sex, season of conception, and calendar year of child's birth; controlled for maternal age, education, partnership status, presence of previous births, and climate zone; and included a random term for the sub-city of mother's residence. FINDINGS Higher temperatures during the entire gestation are associated with lower birthweight, particularly in Mexico and Brazil. The cumulative effect of temperature on birthweight is mostly driven by exposure to higher temperatures during months 7-9 of gestation. Higher maternal education can attenuate the temperature-birthweight associations. INTERPRETATION Our work shows that climate-health impacts are likely to be context- and place-specific and warrants research on temperature and birthweight in diverse climates to adequately anticipate global climate change. Given the high societal cost of suboptimal birthweight, public health efforts should be aimed at diminishing the detrimental effect of higher temperatures on birthweight. FUNDING The Wellcome Trust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryia Bakhtsiyarava
- Institute of Urban and Regional Development, University of California Berkeley, USA.
| | - Ana Ortigoza
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA
| | - Brisa N Sánchez
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA
| | | | - Josiah L Kephart
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA
| | - Santiago Rodríguez López
- Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios sobre Cultura y Sociedad, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas y Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Jordan Rodríguez
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA
| | - Ana V Diez Roux
- Urban Health Collaborative, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Dornsife School of Public Health, Drexel University, USA
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24
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Part C, le Roux J, Chersich M, Sawry S, Filippi V, Roos N, Fairlie L, Nakstad B, de Bont J, Ljungman P, Stafoggia M, Kovats S, Luchters S, Hajat S. Ambient temperature during pregnancy and risk of maternal hypertensive disorders: A time-to-event study in Johannesburg, South Africa. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 212:113596. [PMID: 35661733 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders in pregnancy are a leading cause of maternal and perinatal mortality and morbidity. We evaluate the effects of ambient temperature on risk of maternal hypertensive disorders throughout pregnancy. We used birth register data for all singleton births (22-43 weeks' gestation) recorded at a tertiary-level hospital in Johannesburg, South Africa, between July 2017-June 2018. Time-to-event analysis was combined with distributed lag non-linear models to examine the effects of mean weekly temperature, from conception to birth, on risk of (i) high blood pressure, hypertension, or gestational hypertension, and (ii) pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, or HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets). Low and high temperatures were defined as the 5th and 95th percentiles of daily mean temperature, respectively. Of 7986 women included, 844 (10.6%) had a hypertensive disorder of which 432 (51.2%) had high blood pressure/hypertension/gestational hypertension and 412 (48.8%) had pre-eclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP. High temperature in early pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of pre-eclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP. High temperature (23 °C vs 18 °C) in the third and fourth weeks of pregnancy posed the greatest risk, with hazard ratios of 1.76 (95% CI 1.12-2.78) and 1.79 (95% CI 1.19-2.71), respectively. Whereas, high temperatures in mid-late pregnancy tended to protect against pre-eclampsia/eclampsia/HELLP. Low temperature (11°) during the third trimester (from 29 weeks' gestation) was associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure/hypertension/gestational hypertension, however the strength and statistical significance of low temperature effects were reduced with model adjustments. Our findings support the hypothesis that high temperatures in early pregnancy increase risk of severe hypertensive disorders, likely through an effect on placental development. This highlights the need for greater awareness around the impacts of moderately high temperatures in early pregnancy through targeted advice, and for increased monitoring of pregnant women who conceive during periods of hot weather.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chérie Part
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
| | - Jean le Roux
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Matthew Chersich
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Shobna Sawry
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Véronique Filippi
- Department of Infectious Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Nathalie Roos
- Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lee Fairlie
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Britt Nakstad
- Division of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Jeroen de Bont
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Regional Health Service, Rome, Italy
| | - Sari Kovats
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Stanley Luchters
- Institute of Human Development, Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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25
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Nyadanu SD, Dunne J, Tessema GA, Mullins B, Kumi-Boateng B, Lee Bell M, Duko B, Pereira G. Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and adverse birth outcomes: An umbrella review of 36 systematic reviews and meta-analyses. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 306:119465. [PMID: 35569625 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Multiple systematic reviews and meta-analyses linked prenatal exposure to ambient air pollutants to adverse birth outcomes with mixed findings, including results indicating positive, negative, and null associations across the pregnancy periods. The objective of this study was to systematically summarise systematic reviews and meta-analyses on air pollutants and birth outcomes to assess the overall epidemiological evidence. Systematic reviews with/without meta-analyses on the association between air pollutants (NO2, CO, O3, SO2, PM2.5, and PM10) and birth outcomes (preterm birth; stillbirth; spontaneous abortion; birth weight; low birth weight, LBW; small-for-gestational-age) up to March 30, 2022 were included. We searched PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, Medline, Embase, and the Web of Science Core Collection, systematic reviews repositories, grey literature databases, internet search engines, and references of included studies. The consistency in the directions of the effect estimates was classified as more consistent positive or negative, less consistent positive or negative, unclear, and consistently null. Next, the confidence in the direction was rated as either convincing, probable, limited-suggestive, or limited non-conclusive evidence. Final synthesis included 36 systematic reviews (21 with and 15 without meta-analyses) that contained 295 distinct primary studies. PM2.5 showed more consistent positive associations than other pollutants. The positive exposure-outcome associations based on the entire pregnancy period were more consistent than trimester-specific exposure averages. For whole pregnancy exposure, a more consistent positive association was found for PM2.5 and birth weight reductions, particulate matter and spontaneous abortion, and SO2 and LBW. Other exposure-outcome associations mostly showed less consistent positive associations and few unclear directions of associations. Almost all associations showed probable evidence. The available evidence indicates plausible causal effects of criteria air pollutants on birth outcomes. To strengthen the evidence, more high-quality studies are required, particularly from understudied settings, such as low-and-middle-income countries. However, the current evidence may warrant the adoption of the precautionary principle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia; Education, Culture, and Health Opportunities (ECHO) Ghana, ECHO Research Group International, P. O. Box 424, Aflao, Ghana.
| | - Jennifer Dunne
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Gizachew Assefa Tessema
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia; School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, 5000, Australia
| | - Ben Mullins
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Bernard Kumi-Boateng
- Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, P. O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana
| | - Michelle Lee Bell
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06511, USA
| | - Bereket Duko
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
| | - Gavin Pereira
- Curtin School of Population Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia; Centre for Fertility and Health (CeFH), Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0473, Oslo, Norway; enAble Institute, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia, 6102, Australia
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Zhao T, Long W, Lu P. Short-term effects of ambient temperature on the risk of preeclampsia in Nanjing, China: a time-series analysis. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 2022; 22:539. [PMID: 35787682 PMCID: PMC9252039 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-022-04859-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives Previous studies on the association between temperature and preeclampsia mainly considered temperature on a monthly or seasonal time scale. The objective of this study was to assess the preeclampsia risk associated with short-term temperature exposure using daily data. Study design Daily preeclampsia hospitalization data, daily meteorological data and daily air pollutant data from Nanjing were collected from 2016 to 2017. Both the T test and distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) were applied to assess the short-term effect of temperature on preeclampsia risk. Three kinds of daily temperature, including the daily mean temperature, daily minimum temperature and daily maximum temperature, were analysed. Results When the daily number of preeclampsia hospital admissions was divided into two subgroups based on temperature, it was significantly larger on cold days than on hot days. Regarding the mean temperature, a very low level of mean temperature (4.5 °C, lag = 0–20) and a low level of mean temperature (9.1 °C, lag = 0–20) increased the cumulative relative risk of preeclampsia by more than 60%. At the same time, a very high level of mean temperature (28.7 °C, lags = 0–10, 0–15, 0–20) and a high level of mean temperature (24.1 °C, lags = 0–10, 0–15) decreased the cumulative relative risk of preeclampsia by more than 35%. At a minimum temperature, a very low level of minimum temperature (0.9 °C, lag 0–5) and a low level of minimum temperature (5.6 °C, lag 0–5) increased the cumulative relative risk of preeclampsia by more than 55%. At the same time, a high level of mean temperature (20.9 °C, lags = 0, 0–5) decreased the cumulative relative risk of preeclampsia by more than 20%. The maximum temperature result was similar to the mean temperature result. Conclusions Both direct and lag effects of low temperature on preeclampsia were demonstrated to be significant risk factors. These results could be used to help pregnant women and the government reduce preeclampsia risk. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12884-022-04859-w.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhao
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Long
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Lu
- Jiangsu Climate Centre, Nanjing, China.
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Balidemaj F, Flanagan E, Malmqvist E, Rittner R, Källén K, Åström DO, Oudin A. Prenatal Exposure to Locally Emitted Air Pollutants Is Associated with Birth Weight: An Administrative Cohort Study from Southern Sweden. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10070366. [PMID: 35878271 PMCID: PMC9318414 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10070366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022]
Abstract
While prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution has been shown to be associated with reduced birth weight, there is substantial heterogeneity across studies, and few epidemiological studies have utilized source-specific exposure data. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to investigate the associations between local, source-specific exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) during pregnancy and birth weight. An administrative cohort comprising 40,245 singleton births from 2000 to 2009 in Scania, Sweden, was combined with data on relevant covariates. Investigated sources of PM2.5 included all local sources together as well as tailpipe exhaust, vehicle wear-and-tear, and small-scale residential heating separately. The relationships between these exposures, represented as interquartile range (IQR) increases, and birth weight (continuous) and low birth weight (LBW; <2500 g) were analyzed in crude and adjusted models. Each local PM2.5 source investigated was associated with reduced birth weight; average decreases varied by source (12−34 g). Only small-scale residential heating was clearly associated with LBW (adjusted odds ratio: 1.14 (95% confidence interval: 1.04−1.26) per IQR increase). These results add to existing evidence that prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution disrupts fetal growth and suggest that PM2.5 from both vehicles and small-scale residential heating may reduce birth weight.
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Affiliation(s)
- Festina Balidemaj
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
| | - Erin Flanagan
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
| | - Ebba Malmqvist
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
| | - Ralf Rittner
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
| | - Karin Källén
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
| | - Daniel Oudin Åström
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
- Sustainable Health, Department for Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna Oudin
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Lund University, 222 42 Lund, Sweden; (F.B.); (E.F.); (E.M.); (R.R.); (K.K.); (D.O.Å.)
- Sustainable Health, Department for Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, 901 87 Umeå, Sweden
- Correspondence:
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28
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Hu X, Han W, Wang Y, Aunan K, Pan X, Huang J, Li G. Does air pollution modify temperature-related mortality? A systematic review and meta-analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112898. [PMID: 35181304 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION There is an increasing interest in understanding whether air pollutants modify the quantitative relationships between temperature and health outcomes. The results of available studies were, however, inconsistent. This study aims to sum up the current evidence and provide a comprehensive understanding of this topic. METHODS We conducted an electronic search in PubMed (MEDLINE), EMBASE, Web of Science Core Collection, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. The modified Navigation Guide was applied to evaluate the quality and strength of evidence. We calculated pooled temperature-related mortality at low and high pollutant levels respectively, using the random-effects model. RESULTS We identified 22 eligible studies, eleven of which were included in the meta-analysis. Significant effect modification was observed on heat effects for all-cause and non-accidental mortality by particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter of <10 μm (PM10) and ozone (O3) (p < 0.05). The excess risks (ERs) for all-cause and non-accidental mortality were 5.4% (4.4%, 6.4%) and 6.3% (4.8%, 7.8%) at the low PM10 level, 8.8% (7.5%, 10.1%) and 11.4% (8.7%, 14.2%) at the high PM10 level, respectively. As for O3, the ERs for all-cause and non-accidental mortality were 5.1% (3.9%, 6.3%) and 3.6% (0.1%, 7.2%) at the low O3 level, 7.6% (6.3%, 9.0%) and 12.5% (4.7%, 20.9%) at the high O3 level, respectively. Surprisingly, the heat effects on cardiovascular mortality were found to be lower at high carbon monoxide (CO) levels [ERs = 5.4% (3.9%, 6.9%)] than that at low levels [ERs = 9.4% (7.0%, 11.9%)]. The heterogeneity varied, but the results of sensitivity analyses were generally robust. Significant effect modification by air pollutants was not observed for heatwave or cold effects. CONCLUSIONS PM10 and O3 modify the heat-related all-cause and non-accidental mortality, indicating that policymakers should consider air pollutants when establishing heat-health warning systems. Future studies with comparable designs and settings are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Hu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Wenxing Han
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yuxin Wang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Kristin Aunan
- CICERO Center for International Climate Research, N-0318, Oslo, Norway
| | - Xiaochuan Pan
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jing Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guoxing Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences, Peking University School of Public Health, 38 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Ode Sang Å, Thorpert P, Fransson AM. Planning, Designing, and Managing Green Roofs and Green Walls for Public Health – An Ecosystem Services Approach. Front Ecol Evol 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2022.804500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Installing green roofs and green walls in urban areas is suggested to supply multiple ecosystem services of benefit to human health and well-being. In a three-step literature review, we examined current knowledge on the link between public health and green roofs and green walls. A systematic search identified 69 scientific articles on green roofs/walls with a public health discourse. These articles were categorized according to type of health path covered (reduction of temperature, air pollution, noise or environmental appraisal) and coverage of issues of relevance for strategies on planning, design/construction, and maintenance of green roofs and green walls. Articles identified through the structured search were complemented with reviews (with no explicit public health rationale) covering reduction of noise, temperature, or air pollution and environmental appraisal. Other relevant studies were identified through snowballing. Several of the articles provided guidelines for optimizing the effect of green roofs/walls in supporting ecosystem services and maximizing well-being benefits to support health pathways identified. These included specifications about planning issues, with recommended spatial allocation (locations where people live, sun-exposed for maximum ambient temperature reduction) and with physical access needed for environmental appraisal. Recommendations regarding design parameters covered substrate depth (deeper generally being better), plant choices (more diverse roofs providing more services), and maintenance issues (moist substrate positively correlated with heat reduction).
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30
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Chen F, Liu M, Yang C, Hao X, Chen Z. Effect on the health of newborns caused by extreme temperature in Guangzhou. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 311:114842. [PMID: 35272162 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.114842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
By using 64,270 daily observations from a large hospital in Guangzhou between 2017 and 2019, we analyzed the impact of extreme temperature on the health of newborns via OLS regression with time fixed effect. Given that the short-term temperature change can be regarded as exogenous and random, solving the potential endogenous problem is critical. We find that extreme temperature negatively affects the health of newborns. The Apgar score, an index for evaluating neonatal health, decreases by 0.008 (0.029%) when the duration of extreme temperature events increases by a day. A series of robustness checks verify the reliability of this negative effect. Extreme temperature also has a particularly serious effect on the health of newborns whose mothers have poor education. By gradually extending the observation period, we find that the effect of extreme temperature on neonatal health is mainly concentrated 1-6 weeks before delivery, whereas the effect of extreme temperature on hospitalization cost is mainly concentrated 4-8 weeks before delivery. This paper provides a valuable reference for evaluating the health and social costs of extreme weather, and our findings are conducive to the construction of climate-resilient health systems, especially in Guangzhou.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanglin Chen
- School of Government, Peking University, Beijing, 100871, China.
| | - Meiling Liu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Chuanzi Yang
- Clinical Data Center, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Xinyue Hao
- School of Economics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
| | - Zhongfei Chen
- School of Economics, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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Hviid A, Laksafoss A, Hedley P, Lausten-Thomsen U, Hjalgrim H, Christiansen M, Olsen SF. Assessment of Seasonality and Extremely Preterm Birth in Denmark. JAMA Netw Open 2022; 5:e2145800. [PMID: 35113166 PMCID: PMC8814911 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2021.45800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Preterm birth, particularly extremely preterm birth, has been associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. Research during SARS-CoV-2-related lockdowns revealed reductions in the more severe subtypes of preterm birth in some countries, suggesting the presence of preventable risk factors, such as infectious diseases or social behavior. Seasonality may provide a similar means of assessing natural changes in the daily life of pregnant individuals that were similar to those experienced during the COVID-19 lockdown period. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the association between seasonality and extremely preterm birth. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This nationwide cohort study included 1 136 143 pregnancies in Denmark with onset between January 1, 1997, and December 31, 2016, in which the fetuses survived 21 completed weeks of gestation. Pregnancies were followed up until preterm birth, fetal death, or 37 completed weeks of gestation. Data were analyzed from September 2020 to September 2021. EXPOSURES Season during gestation (primary exposure) and season of pregnancy onset. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The main outcome of extremely preterm birth was defined as a live birth occurring between 22 weeks, 0 days' gestation and 27 weeks, 6 days' gestation. Cox regression analyses were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for season during gestation and season of pregnancy onset, with adjustment for socioeconomic and demographic factors. RESULTS Among 662 338 pregnant individuals, the median age at pregnancy onset was 30.0 years (IQR, 6.0 years). Of 1 136 143 pregnancies, 2009 extremely preterm births (cumulative incidence, 0.18%) were identified during follow-up. Season during gestation was associated with extremely preterm birth, with cumulative incidences of 0.17% (95% CI, 0.16%-0.19%) in spring, 0.18% (95% CI, 0.17%-0.20%) in summer, 0.20% (95% CI, 0.18%-0.21%) in autumn, and 0.16% (95% CI, 0.14%-0.17%) in winter. Compared with winter, the adjusted HRs (AHRs) for the risk of extremely preterm birth were 1.11 (95% CI, 0.97-1.26) for spring, 1.15 (95% CI, 1.02-1.31) for summer, and 1.25 (95% CI, 1.10-1.42) for autumn. The number of extremely preterm births associated with the increased risk in the spring, summer, and autumn was 56.1 (95% CI, 18.2-99.7), representing 2.8% (95% CI, 0.9%-5.0%) of all extremely preterm births in the study. Season of pregnancy onset was not associated with the risk of extremely preterm birth in spring (AHR, 0.98; 95% CI, 0.95-1.01) or summer (AHR, 1.00; 95% CI, 0.96-1.03) compared with winter, but a slight increase in risk was observed in autumn (AHR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02-1.09) compared with winter. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this large, national cohort study, seasonality was associated with 2.8% of all extremely preterm births. Season during gestation was associated with the rate of extremely preterm birth, suggesting the presence of potential risk factors associated with season that may be preventable. Further research to identify risk factors for extremely preterm birth associated with seasonality is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anders Hviid
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Pharmacovigilance Research Center, Department of Drug Design and Pharmacology, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna Laksafoss
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Paula Hedley
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulrik Lausten-Thomsen
- Department of Neonatology, Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henrik Hjalgrim
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- The Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Michael Christiansen
- Department for Congenital Disorders, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sjurdur Frodi Olsen
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Manoochehri Z, Manoochehri S, Soltani F, Tapak L, Sadeghifar M. Predicting preeclampsia and related risk factors using data mining approaches: A cross-sectional study. Int J Reprod Biomed 2022; 19:959-968. [PMID: 34977453 PMCID: PMC8717074 DOI: 10.18502/ijrm.v19i11.9911] [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: 09/05/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Preeclampsia is a type of pregnancy hypertension disorder that has adverse effects on both the mother and the fetus. Despite recent advances in the etiology of preeclampsia, no adequate clinical screening tests have been identified to diagnose the disorder. Objective We aimed to provide a model based on data mining approaches that can be used as a screening tool to identify patients with this syndrome and also to identify the risk factors associated with it. Materials and Methods The data used to perform this cross-sectional study were extracted from the clinical records of 726 mothers with preeclampsia and 726 mothers without preeclampsia who were referred to Fatemieh Hospital in Hamadan City during April 2005–March 2015. In this study, six data mining methods were adopted, including logistic regression, k-nearest neighborhood, C5.0 decision tree, discriminant analysis, random forest, and support vector machine, and their performance was compared using the criteria of accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity. Results Underlying condition, age, pregnancy season and the number of pregnancies were the most important risk factors for diagnosing preeclampsia. The accuracy of the models were as follows: logistic regression (0.713), k-nearest neighborhood (0.742), C5.0 decision tree (0.788), discriminant analysis (0.687), random forest (0.758) and support vector machine (0.791). Conclusion Among the data mining methods employed in this study, support vector machine was the most accurate in predicting preeclampsia. Therefore, this model can be considered as a screening tool to diagnose this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zohreh Manoochehri
- Department of Biostatistics, Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Sara Manoochehri
- Department of Biostatistics, Student Research Committee, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Farzaneh Soltani
- Department of Midwifery, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Leili Tapak
- Modeling of Noncommunicable Disease Research Center, Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Majid Sadeghifar
- Department of Statistics, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Bu-Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran
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Liu X, Miao H, Behrman JR, Hannum E, Liang Z, Zhao Q. The Asian Games, air pollution and birth outcomes in South China: An instrumental variable approach. ECONOMICS AND HUMAN BIOLOGY 2022; 44:101078. [PMID: 34864318 DOI: 10.1016/j.ehb.2021.101078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We estimate the effects of air-pollution exposure on low birthweight, birthweight, and prematurity risk in South China, for all expectant mothers and by maternal age group and child sex. We do so by exploiting exogenous improvement in air quality during the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, when strict regulations were mandated to assure better air quality. We use daily air-pollution levels collected from monitoring stations in Guangzhou, the Asian Games host city, and Shenzhen, a nearby control city, between 2009 and 2011. We first show that air quality during the Asian Games significantly improved in Guangzhou, relative to Shenzhen. Next, using birth-certificate data for both cities for 2009-2011 and using expected pregnancy overlap with the Asian Games as an instrumental variable, we study the effects of three pollutants (PM10, SO2, and NO2) on birth outcomes. Four main conclusions emerge: 1) air pollutants significantly reduce average birthweight and increase preterm risk; 2) for birthweight, late pregnancy is most sensitive to PM10 exposure, but there is not consistent evidence of a sensitive period for other pollutants and outcomes; 3) for birthweight, babies of mothers who are at least 35 years old show more vulnerability to all three air pollutants; and 4) male babies show more vulnerability than female babies to PM10 and SO2, but birthweights of female babies are more sensitive than those of male babies to NO2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Liu
- Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA19104, USA.
| | - Huazhang Miao
- Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Jere R Behrman
- Department of Economics and Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emily Hannum
- Department of Sociology and Population Studies Center, University of Pennsylvania, 3718 Locust Walk, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Zhijiang Liang
- Guangdong Women and Children Hospital, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China
| | - Qingguo Zhao
- Epidemiological Research Office of Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics National Health and Family Planning Commission, Family Planning Research Institute of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, China.
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Jensen PM, Sørensen M, Weiner J. Human total fertility rate affected by ambient temperatures in both the present and previous generations. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2021; 65:1837-1848. [PMID: 33990870 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-021-02140-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2020] [Revised: 03/26/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Elevated temperatures negatively affect human reproduction through several processes that regulate nutrient uptake and resource allocation in pregnant women. These can interfere with foetal development, resulting in low birth weight neonates with altered development trajectories. Temperatures that affect the current generation could, therefore, also have an impact on the following generation. We asked whether heat stress affected offspring fertility by asking if current and past ambient temperatures influenced total fertility rates (TFR) in human populations distributed across the world. We analysed time series data in 65 countries using simple regression analyses based on maximum temperatures and temperature amplitudes over 55 years. Supplemental longer time series (up to 100 years) provided information on response patterns in Northern Europe and Greenland's colder climates. There were clear and strong effects of temperatures on the TFR in the concurrent and the previous generation. Our temperature-based models account for 71-95% of the variation in TRF in European countries and Greenland, and 56-99% of the variation in 65 countries worldwide. Our findings are consistent with studies of seasonal variation in fertility and suggest that increased temperatures will negatively influence populations subjected to monthly maximum temperatures above 15-20 °C, while fertility in colder climates benefits from elevated temperatures. Our results provide strong evidence that ambient temperatures have important effects on human fertility, and that these effects persist into the following generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Per M Jensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark.
| | - Marten Sørensen
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
| | - Jacob Weiner
- Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Frederiksberg, Denmark
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Basagaña X, Michael Y, Lensky IM, Rubin L, Grotto I, Vadislavsky E, Levi Y, Amitai E, Agay-Shay K. Low and High Ambient Temperatures during Pregnancy and Birth Weight among 624,940 Singleton Term Births in Israel (2010-2014): An Investigation of Potential Windows of Susceptibility. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:107001. [PMID: 34643443 PMCID: PMC8513522 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to heat during pregnancy has been associated with reduced fetal growth. Less is known about associations with cold and the potential for critical time windows of exposure. OBJECTIVES We aimed to evaluate, in a national retrospective cohort, critical windows of susceptibility during pregnancy to extreme temperatures (low and high) and fetal growth, among 624,940 singleton term births in Israel during the period 2010-2014. METHODS Temperature exposures were estimated using a spatially refined gridded climate data set with a 1-h and 1-km2 resolution. Percentiles of temperature were categorized by climatic zone for the entire pregnancy and by trimesters and weeks. Generalized additive models with the distributed lag nonlinear model framework were used to estimate unadjusted and adjusted associations between percentiles and categories of temperature and fetal growth markers: term [births after 36 weeks of gestational age (GA)] mean birth weight and term low birth weight (tLBW, term infants with birth weight below 2,500g). RESULTS After adjustment, extreme temperatures (percentiles) during the entire pregnancy were associated with a lower mean birth weight {≤10th vs. 41st-50th percentile: -56g [95% confidence interval (CI): -63g, -50g)]; >90th vs. 41st-50th percentile: -65g; 95% CI: -72g, -58g}. Similar inverse U-shaped patterns were observed for all trimesters, with stronger associations for heat than for cold and for exposures during the third trimester. For heat, results suggest critical windows between 3-9 and 19-34 GA-weeks, with the strongest association estimated at 3 GA-weeks (temperature >90th vs. 41st-50th percentiles: -3.8g; 95% CI: -7.1g, -0.4g). For cold, there was a consistent trend of null associations early in pregnancy and stronger inverse associations over time, with the strongest association at 36 GA-week (≤10th vs. 41st-50th percentiles: -2.9g; 95% CI: -6.5g, 0.7g). For tLBW, U-shape patterns were estimated for the entire pregnancy and third trimester exposures, as well as nonsignificant associations with heat for 29-36 GA-weeks. Generally, the patterns of associations with temperatures during the entire pregnancy were consistent when stratified by urbanicity and geocoding hierarchy, when estimated for daily minimum and maximum temperatures, when exposures were classified based on temperature distributions in 49 natural regions, and when estimated for all live births. DISCUSSION Findings from our study of term live births in Israel (2010-2014) suggest that exposure to extreme temperatures, especially heat, during specific time windows may result in reduced fetal growth. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8117.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Basagaña
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Yaron Michael
- Department of Geography and Environment, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Itamar M. Lensky
- Department of Geography and Environment, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Lisa Rubin
- School of Public Health, University of Haifa, Haifa, Israel
| | - Itamar Grotto
- Health Science, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Yoav Levi
- Israel Meteorological Service (IMS), Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Eyal Amitai
- Israel Meteorological Service (IMS), Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Keren Agay-Shay
- Health & Environment Research (HER) Lab, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan University, Safed, Israel
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Yitshak-Sade M, Kloog I, Schwartz JD, Novack V, Erez O, Just AC. The effect of prenatal temperature and PM 2.5 exposure on birthweight: Weekly windows of exposure throughout the pregnancy. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 155:106588. [PMID: 33940393 PMCID: PMC8292186 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Birthweight is a strong predictor of normal growth, healthy development, and survival. Several studies have found associations between temperature, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and birth weight. However, the relevant timing of exposures varies between studies and is yet unclear. Therefore, we assessed the difference in term birthweight (TBW) associated with weekly exposure to temperature and PM2.5 throughout 37 weeks of gestation. METHODS We included all singleton live term births in Massachusetts, U.S between 2004 and 2015 (n = 712,438). Weekly PM2.5 and temperature predictions were estimated on a 1 km grid from satellite-based models. We utilized a distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM) to estimate the difference in TBW associated with weekly exposures from the last menstrual period to 37 weeks of gestation. RESULTS We found a nonlinear association with prenatal temperature exposure. Larger effects were observed in warmer temperatures, where higher temperatures were negatively associated with TBW. Temperature effects were larger in the first and final weeks of gestation. We observed a negative difference in TBW associated with PM2.5 exposure. Overall, a 1 µg/m3 increase in prenatal exposure was associated with 3.9 g lower TBW (95% CI -5.0 g; -2.9 g). PM2.5 effects were larger in the final weeks of gestation. CONCLUSION We found heat and PM2.5 exposure to be related to lower TBW. Our findings suggest that women are more susceptible to both exposures towards the end of pregnancy. Susceptibility to heat was higher in the initial weeks of pregnancy as well. These critical windows of susceptibility can be communicated to pregnant women during routine prenatal visits to increase awareness and target interventions to reduce exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maayan Yitshak-Sade
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Itai Kloog
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, New York, NY, USA; Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Joel D Schwartz
- Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Victor Novack
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Beer Sheva, Israel; Department of Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Offer Erez
- Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Allan C Just
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Environmental Medicine and Public Health, New York, NY, USA
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37
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He J, Liu R, Zheng W, Guo H, Yang Y, Zhao R, Yao W. High ambient temperature exposure during late gestation disrupts glycolipid metabolism and hepatic mitochondrial function tightly related to gut microbial dysbiosis in pregnant mice. Microb Biotechnol 2021; 14:2116-2129. [PMID: 34272826 PMCID: PMC8449678 DOI: 10.1111/1751-7915.13893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2021] [Accepted: 07/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
As global warming intensifies, emerging evidence has demonstrated high ambient temperature during pregnancy negatively affects maternal physiology with compromised pregnant outcomes; however, little is known about the roles of gut microbiota and its underlying mechanisms in this process. Here, for the first time, we explored the potential mechanisms of gut microbiota involved in the disrupted glycolipid metabolism via hepatic mitochondrial function. Our results indicate heat stress (HS) reduces fat and protein contents and serum levels of insulin and triglyceride (TG), while increases that of non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA), β-hydroxybutyric acid (B-HBA), creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (P < 0.05). Additionally, HS downregulates both mitochondrial genes (mtDNA) and nuclear encoding mitochondrial functional genes with increasing serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) (P < 0.05). Regarding microbial response, HS boosts serum levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (P < 0.05) and alters β-diversity (ANOSIM, P < 0.01), increasing the proportions of Escherichia-Shigella, Acinetobacter and Klebsiella (q < 0.05), while reducing that of Ruminiclostridium, Blautia, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136_group, Clostridium VadinBB60 and Muribaculaceae (q < 0.05). PICRUSt analysis predicts that HS upregulates 11 KEGG pathways, mainly including bile secretion and bacterial invasion of epithelial cells. The collective results suggest that microbial dysbiosis due to late gestational HS has strong associations with damaged hepatic mitochondrial function and disrupted metabolic profiles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwen He
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.,Affiliated Hospital of Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712000, China
| | - Riliang Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Weijiang Zheng
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Huiduo Guo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Yunnan Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Ruqian Zhao
- Key Lab of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Wen Yao
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China.,Key Lab of Animal Physiology and Biochemistry, Nanjing Agricultural University, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Nanjing, 210095, China
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Qu Y, Zhang W, Ryan I, Deng X, Dong G, Liu X, Lin S. Ambient extreme heat exposure in summer and transitional months and emergency department visits and hospital admissions due to pregnancy complications. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 777:146134. [PMID: 33689898 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Although extreme heat exposure (EHE) was reported to be associated with increased risks of multiple diseases, little is known about the effects of EHE on pregnancy complications. We examined the EHE-pregnancy complications associations by lag days, subtypes, sociodemographic characteristics, and areas in New York State (NYS). We conducted a case-crossover analysis to assess the EHE-pregnancy complications associations in summer (June-August) and transitional months (May and September). All emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions due to pregnancy complications (ICD 9 codes: 630-649) from 2005 to 2013 in NYS were included. Daily mean temperature > 90th percentile of the monthly mean temperature in each county was defined as an EHE. We used conditional logistic regression while controlling for other weather factors, air pollutants and holidays to assess the EHE-pregnancy complications associations. EHE was significantly associated with increased ED visits for pregnancy complications in summer (ORs ranged: 1.01-1.04 from lag days 0-5). There was also a significant and stronger association in transitional months (ORs ranged: 1.02-1.06, Lag 0). Furthermore, we found EHE affected multiple subtypes of pregnancy complications, including threatened/spontaneous abortion, renal diseases, infectious diseases, diabetes, and hypertension (ORs range: 1.13-1.90) during transitional months. A significant concentration response effect between the number of consecutive days of EHE and ED visits in summer (P for trend <0.001), ED visits in September (P for trend =0.03), and hospital admission in May (P for trend<0.001) due to pregnancy complications was observed, respectively. African Americans and residents in lower socioeconomic position (SEP) counties were more susceptible to the effects of EHE. In conclusion, we found an immediate and prolonged effect of EHE on pregnancy complications in summer and a stronger, immediate effect in transitional months. These effects were stronger in African Americans and counties with lower SEP. Earlier warnings regarding extreme heat are recommended to decrease pregnancy complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanji Qu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 106 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China; Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA
| | - Ian Ryan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA
| | - Xinlei Deng
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA
| | - Guanghui Dong
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, 106 Zhongshan 2nd Road, Guangzhou 510080, Guangdong, China.
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, One University Place, Rensselaer, Albany, NY 12144, USA.
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Megaw L, Clemens T, Daras K, Weller RB, Dibben C, Stock SJ. Higher Sun Exposure in the First Trimester Is Associated With Reduced Preterm Birth; A Scottish Population Cohort Study Using Linked Maternity and Meteorological Records. FRONTIERS IN REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH 2021; 3:674245. [PMID: 36304023 PMCID: PMC9580751 DOI: 10.3389/frph.2021.674245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Preterm birth (birth at <37 weeks gestation) is the leading cause of death in children under 5-years-old, and prevention is a global public health issue. Seasonal patterns of preterm birth have been reported, but factors underlying this have been poorly described. Sun exposure is an important environmental variable that has risks and benefits for human health, but the effects of sun exposure on pregnancy duration and preterm birth are unknown. Objectives: To determine the association between available sun exposure and preterm birth. Methods: We performed a population-based data-linkage study of 556,376 singleton births (in 397,370 mothers) at or after 24 weeks gestation, in Scotland between 2000 and 2010. Maternity records were linked to available sun exposure from meteorological records, by postcode. Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationship between available sunshine and preterm birth at <37 weeks gestation. Exploratory analyses included a subgroup analysis of spontaneous and indicated preterm births and a sibling analysis in sib pairs discordant for preterm birth. Results: The rate of preterm birth was 6% (32,958/553,791 live births). Increased available sun exposure in the first trimester of pregnancy was associated with a reduced risk of preterm birth, with evidence of a dose-response. Compared with the lowest quartile of sun exposure, the highest quartile of sun exposure was associated with a reduced odds ratio (OR) of preterm birth of 0.90 (95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.88-0.94 p < 0.01) on univariable analysis and OR of 0.91 (95% CI 0.87, 0.93 p < 0.01) after adjustment for second trimester sunlight exposure, parity, maternal age, smoking status, and deprivation category. No association was seen between preterm birth and second trimester available sun exposure or combined first and second trimester exposure. Similar patterns were seen on sibling analysis and within both the indicated and spontaneous preterm subgroups. Discussion: Available sun exposure in the first trimester of pregnancy is associated with a protective effect on preterm birth <37 weeks gestation. This opens up new mechanisms, and potential therapeutic pathways, for preterm birth prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Megaw
- Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- School of Women and Infants Health, University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Tom Clemens
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Konstantinos Daras
- Institute of Population Health Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Richard B. Weller
- Centre for Inflammation Research, University of Edinburgh Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Chris Dibben
- School of Geosciences, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Sarah Jane Stock
- Tommy's Centre for Maternal and Fetal Health, Medical Research Council Centre for Reproductive Health, University of Edinburgh Queen's Medical Research Institute, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
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40
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Hastie CE, Mackay DF, Clemens TL, Cherrie MPC, Megaw LJ, Smith GCS, Stock SJ, Dibben C, Pell JP. Antenatal Exposure to UV-B Radiation and Preeclampsia: A Retrospective Cohort Study. J Am Heart Assoc 2021; 10:e020246. [PMID: 34155917 PMCID: PMC8403301 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.120.020246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Background Risk of preeclampsia varies by month of delivery. We tested whether this seasonal patterning may be mediated through maternal vitamin D concentration using antenatal exposure to UV‐B radiation as an instrumental variable. Methods and Results Scottish maternity records were linked to antenatal UV‐B exposure derived from satellites between 2000 and 2010. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between UV‐B and preeclampsia, adjusting for the potential confounding effects of month of conception, child's sex, gestation, parity, and mean monthly temperature. Of the 522 896 eligible singleton deliveries, 8689 (1.66%) mothers developed preeclampsia. Total antenatal UV‐B exposure ranged from 43.18 to 101.11 kJ/m2 and was associated with reduced risk of preeclampsia with evidence of a dose‐response relationship (highest quintile of exposure: adjusted odds ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44–0.72; P<0.001). Associations were demonstrated for UV‐B exposure in all 3 trimesters. Conclusions The seasonal patterning of preeclampsia may be mediated through low maternal vitamin D concentration in winter resulting from low UV‐B radiation. Interventional studies are required to determine whether vitamin D supplements or UV‐B–emitting light boxes can reduce the seasonal patterning of preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Hastie
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing University of Glasgow United Kingdom
| | - Daniel F Mackay
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing University of Glasgow United Kingdom
| | - Tom L Clemens
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health School of Geosciences University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
| | - Mark P C Cherrie
- Centre for Research on Environment, Society and Health School of Geosciences University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
| | - Lauren J Megaw
- King Edward Memorial Hospital for Women Subiaco Australia
| | - Gordon C S Smith
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology University of Cambridge United Kingdom
| | - Sarah J Stock
- Usher Institute University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
| | - Chris Dibben
- Institute of Geography University of Edinburgh United Kingdom
| | - Jill P Pell
- Institute of Health and Wellbeing University of Glasgow United Kingdom
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41
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Li C, Bloom MS, Lin S, Ren M, Hajat S, Wang Q, Zhang W, Ho HC, Zhao Q, Lin Y, Huang C. Temperature variation and preterm birth among live singleton deliveries in Shenzhen, China: A time-to-event analysis. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 195:110834. [PMID: 33548292 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2020] [Revised: 12/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Ambient temperature extremes due to heat exposure was an established risk factor for preterm birth (<37 gestational weeks). However, there is insufficient epidemiological evidence on the effects of temperature variation(TV), although TV is also associated with heat exposure and can influence human health risk. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between inter- and intraday TV and preterm birth (PTB). METHOD A total of 1,388,994 live singleton births were collected from January 2003 to December 2012, from the Shenzhen Birth registry system. Daily temperature range (DTR) was defined as the difference between the highest and lowest recorded daily temperature. Intraday TV was defined as the maximum daily diurnal temperature range in a given week (Max-DTR). Inter-day TV was defined as the maximum increase or decrease in daily mean temperature between days t and t-1in a given week; either an increase (Temp-inc) or a decrease (Temp-dec). We used Cox proportional hazards models to estimate TV-related PTB risks during the first trimester, the second trimester, and in late pregnancy. RESULTS The maximum values for DTR, Temp-inc, and Temp-dec were 17 °C, 8 °C and 11 °C, respectively. The greatest TV-related PTB risk occurred in the second trimester, with 5.8% (95%CI: 3.3%, 8.3%), 23.7% (95%CI: 19.6%, 27.9%), and 4.4% (95%CI: 1.8%, 7.1%) differences per 1 °C increase in Max-DTR, Temp-inc, and Temp-dec, respectively. Greater TV was associated with elevated PTB risk during the warm season. The association between TV and PTB was modified by seasons, maternal education and chronic conditions. CONCLUSIONS Sharp TV is a likely risk factor for PTB. Policy makers and clinicians should recognize the potential role of TV in the etiology of PTB so that interventions can be designed to protect pregnant women and their fetuses against extreme temperatures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changchang Li
- Department of Sexually Transmitted Diseases Prevention and Control, Southern Medical University, No. Lujing Road, Guangzhou, 510095, China; Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhongshan Road #2, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Michael S Bloom
- Departments of Environmental Health Sciences and Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA; Department of Global and Community Health, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA.
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
| | - Meng Ren
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhongshan Road #2, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Department of Social and Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, USA.
| | - Qiong Wang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, China.
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY, USA.
| | - Hung Chak Ho
- Department of Urban Planning and Design, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; School of Geography and Remote Sensing, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Qingguo Zhao
- Epidemiology Research Office of Key Laboratory of Male Reproduction and Genetics (National Health Commission), Family Planning Institute of Guangdong Province/Family Planning Special Hospital of Guangdong Province, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Yan Lin
- Department of Children Health Care, Shenzhen Women and Children Hospital, China.
| | - Cunrui Huang
- Department of Health Policy and Management, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, No.74 Zhongshan Road #2, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Meteorology and Health, Shanghai Meteorological Service, Shanghai, 200030, China; School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, 450001, China.
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Agier L, Basagaña X, Hernandez-Ferrer C, Maitre L, Tamayo Uria I, Urquiza J, Andrusaityte S, Casas M, de Castro M, Cequier E, Chatzi L, Donaire-Gonzalez D, Giorgis-Allemand L, Gonzalez JR, Grazuleviciene R, Gützkow KB, Haug LS, Sakhi AK, McEachan RRC, Meltzer HM, Nieuwenhuijsen M, Robinson O, Roumeliotaki T, Sunyer J, Thomsen C, Vafeiadi M, Valentin A, West J, Wright J, Siroux V, Vrijheid M, Slama R. Association between the pregnancy exposome and fetal growth. Int J Epidemiol 2021; 49:572-586. [PMID: 32167557 DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyaa017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several environmental contaminants were shown to possibly influence fetal growth, generally from single exposure family studies, which are prone to publication bias and confounding by co-exposures. The exposome paradigm offers perspectives to avoid selective reporting of findings and to control for confounding by co-exposures. We aimed to characterize associations of fetal growth with the pregnancy chemical and external exposomes. METHODS Within the Human Early-Life Exposome project, 131 prenatal exposures were assessed using biomarkers and environmental models in 1287 mother-child pairs from six European cohorts. We investigated their associations with fetal growth using a deletion-substitution-addition (DSA) algorithm considering all exposures simultaneously, and an exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) considering each exposure independently. We corrected for exposure measurement error and tested for exposure-exposure and sex-exposure interactions. RESULTS The DSA model identified lead blood level, which was associated with a 97 g birth weight decrease for each doubling in lead concentration. No exposure passed the multiple testing-corrected significance threshold of ExWAS; without multiple testing correction, this model was in favour of negative associations of lead, fine particulate matter concentration and absorbance with birth weight, and of a positive sex-specific association of parabens with birth weight in boys. No two-way interaction between exposure variables was identified. CONCLUSIONS This first large-scale exposome study of fetal growth simultaneously considered >100 environmental exposures. Compared with single exposure studies, our approach allowed making all tests (usually reported in successive publications) explicit. Lead exposure is still a health concern in Europe and parabens health effects warrant further investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lydiane Agier
- Inserm, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, IAB, Grenoble, France
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Carles Hernandez-Ferrer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Léa Maitre
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Ibon Tamayo Uria
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jose Urquiza
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra Andrusaityte
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytautas Magnus University, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Maribel Casas
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Montserrat de Castro
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Leda Chatzi
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David Donaire-Gonzalez
- Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Division of Environmental Epidemiology (EEPI), Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.,Mary MacKillop Institute for Health Research, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Lise Giorgis-Allemand
- Inserm, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, IAB, Grenoble, France
| | - Juan R Gonzalez
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Line S Haug
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Rosemary R C McEachan
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | | | - Mark Nieuwenhuijsen
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Oliver Robinson
- MRC Centre for Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | | | - Jordi Sunyer
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonia Valentin
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jane West
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - John Wright
- Bradford Institute for Health Research, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Bradford, UK
| | - Valérie Siroux
- Inserm, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, IAB, Grenoble, France
| | - Martine Vrijheid
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain.,Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.,CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Rémy Slama
- Inserm, CNRS, University Grenoble Alpes, Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, IAB, Grenoble, France
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Olivier K, Reinders LA, Clarke MW, Crew RC, Pereira G, Maloney SK, Wyrwoll CS. Maternal, Placental, and Fetal Responses to Intermittent Heat Exposure During Late Gestation in Mice. Reprod Sci 2021; 28:416-425. [PMID: 32804351 DOI: 10.1007/s43032-020-00291-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Physiological adaptations during heat exposure are critical in pregnancy. Maternal thermoregulation has to accommodate the increased metabolic load of the developing fetus. Here, we assess the consequences of intermittent heat exposure, as occurs in heat waves, for maternal adaptations during pregnancy, and chronic feto-placental outcomes. Following timed mating, C57BL/6J mice were allocated to either standard animal housing temperature conditions (SH) or housing at a temperature within the thermoneutral zone (TNZ). A subset of the TNZ group was exposed to 37 °C for 8 h a day from E15.5 to E17.5 to simulate a heat wave (HW). Maternal weight gain, food intake, rectal temperature, and nesting behaviors were measured across gestation. Fetal and placental tissues were collected at E18.5. With heat exposure, maternal rectal temperature increased while food intake and nest complexity decreased. Maternal daily weight gain initially decreased due to heat exposure, but on the last day of exposure, it was comparable to the other experimental groups. These maternal responses during heat exposure impacted on the fetus, with restrictions in placental and fetal development evident just before birth. Thus, the vascular portion of the placenta, and the relative fetal head size, was smaller. Furthermore, SH and TNZ animals demonstrated distinct differences in food intake and nesting behavior during pregnancy, reinforcing the need for caution in extrapolating from animal models to humans when housing occurs outside of thermoneutral zone conditions. This study highlights the direct effects of temperature conditions on health in pregnancy and provides a foundation for future studies to investigate fetal health consequences that are associated with intermittent heat exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karike Olivier
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia
| | - Lauren A Reinders
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia
| | - Michael W Clarke
- Centre for Microscopy, Characterisation and Analysis, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia
| | - Rachael C Crew
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia
| | - Gavin Pereira
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Bentley, 6102, Australia
| | - Shane K Maloney
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia
| | - Caitlin S Wyrwoll
- School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, 6009, Australia.
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Nyadanu SD, Tessema GA, Mullins B, Kumi-Boateng B, Bell ML, Pereira G. Ambient Air Pollution, Extreme Temperatures and Birth Outcomes: A Protocol for an Umbrella Review, Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:8658. [PMID: 33561059 PMCID: PMC7700558 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17228658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and extreme temperatures are among the major risk factors of adverse birth outcomes and with potential long-term effects during the life course. Although low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) are most vulnerable, there is limited synthesis of evidence in such settings. This document describes a protocol for both an umbrella review (Systematic Review 1) and a focused systematic review and meta-analysis of studies from LMICs (Systematic Review 2). We will search from start date of each database to present, six major academic databases (PubMed, CINAHL, Scopus, MEDLINE/Ovid, EMBASE/Ovid and Web of Science Core Collection), systematic reviews repositories and references of eligible studies. Additional searches in grey literature will also be conducted. Eligibility criteria include studies of pregnant women exposed to ambient air pollutants and/or extreme temperatures during pregnancy with and without adverse birth outcomes. The umbrella review (Systematic Review 1) will include only previous systematic reviews while Systematic Review 2 will include quantitative observational studies in LMICs. Searches will be restricted to English language using comprehensive search terms to consecutively screen the titles, abstracts and full-texts to select eligible studies. Two independent authors will conduct the study screening and selection, risk of bias assessment and data extraction using JBI SUMARI web-based software. Narrative and semi-quantitative syntheses will be employed for the Systematic Review 1. For Systematic Review 2, we will perform meta-analysis with two alternative meta-analytical methods (quality effect and inverse variance heterogeneity) as well as the classic random effect model. If meta-analysis is infeasible, narrative synthesis will be presented. Confidence in cumulative evidence and the strength of the evidence will be assessed. This protocol is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42020200387).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sylvester Dodzi Nyadanu
- Education, Culture and Health Opportunities (ECHO) Ghana, ECHO Research Group International, P. O. Box 424, Aflao, Ghana
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; (G.A.T.); (B.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Gizachew Assefa Tessema
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; (G.A.T.); (B.M.); (G.P.)
- School of Public Health, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
| | - Ben Mullins
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; (G.A.T.); (B.M.); (G.P.)
| | - Bernard Kumi-Boateng
- Department of Geomatic Engineering, University of Mines and Technology, P.O. Box 237, Tarkwa, Ghana;
| | - Michelle Lee Bell
- School of the Environment, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06511, USA;
| | - Gavin Pereira
- School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia; (G.A.T.); (B.M.); (G.P.)
- Telethon Kids Institute, Northern Entrance, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- Centre for Fertility and Health (CeFH), Norwegian Institute of Public Health, 0473 Oslo, Norway
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Chersich MF, Pham MD, Areal A, Haghighi MM, Manyuchi A, Swift CP, Wernecke B, Robinson M, Hetem R, Boeckmann M, Hajat S. Associations between high temperatures in pregnancy and risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirths: systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ 2020; 371:m3811. [PMID: 33148618 PMCID: PMC7610201 DOI: 10.1136/bmj.m3811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess whether exposure to high temperatures in pregnancy is associated with increased risk for preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth. DESIGN Systematic review and random effects meta-analysis. DATA SOURCES Medline and Web of Science searched up to September 2018, updated in August 2019. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES Clinical studies on associations between high environmental temperatures, and preterm birth, birth weight, and stillbirths. RESULTS 14 880 records and 175 full text articles were screened. 70 studies were included, set in 27 countries, seven of which were countries with low or middle income. In 40 of 47 studies, preterm births were more common at higher than lower temperatures. Exposures were classified as heatwaves, 1°C increments, and temperature threshold cutoff points. In random effects meta-analysis, odds of a preterm birth rose 1.05-fold (95% confidence interval 1.03 to 1.07) per 1°C increase in temperature and 1.16-fold (1.10 to 1.23) during heatwaves. Higher temperature was associated with reduced birth weight in 18 of 28 studies, with considerable statistical heterogeneity. Eight studies on stillbirths all showed associations between temperature and stillbirth, with stillbirths increasing 1.05-fold (1.01 to 1.08) per 1°C rise in temperature. Associations between temperature and outcomes were largest among women in lower socioeconomic groups and at age extremes. The multiple temperature metrics and lag analyses limited comparison between studies and settings. CONCLUSIONS Although summary effect sizes are relatively small, heat exposures are common and the outcomes are important determinants of population health. Linkages between socioeconomic status and study outcomes suggest that risks might be largest in low and middle income countries. Temperature rises with global warming could have major implications for child health. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION PROSPERO CRD 42019140136 and CRD 42018118113.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Francis Chersich
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Hillbrow, Johannesburg 2001, South Africa
| | - Minh Duc Pham
- Burnet Institute, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Department of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Ashtyn Areal
- Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marjan Mosalam Haghighi
- The Children's Hospital at Westmead, Cardiology Centre, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Albert Manyuchi
- Global Change Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Bianca Wernecke
- Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa
- Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, South Africa
| | | | - Robyn Hetem
- School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Melanie Boeckmann
- Department of Environment and Health, School of Public Health, Bielefeld University, Germany
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, and the Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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46
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Monteblanco AD, Vanos JK. Community-based maternal health workers' perspectives on heat risk and safety: a pilot qualitative study. Health Care Women Int 2020; 42:657-677. [PMID: 32956026 DOI: 10.1080/07399332.2020.1803873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
In this study the authors examined how maternal health workers (MHWs) perceive the health risks of extreme heat exposure to pregnant women and fetuses. The authors conducted interviews with 12 MHWs (including midwives and doulas) in El Paso, Texas. Using qualitative analysis, the researchers identified numerous themes. Although heat was not communicated as a major health risk, participants expressed some concern with growing heat exposure and communicated standard protective measures. While all participants were familiar with some heat illness symptoms, they were generally unaware of their clients' vulnerability. MHWs' minimal heat-risk knowledge leaves pregnant women and developing fetuses at risk of preventable harm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adelle Dora Monteblanco
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Sociology and Anthropology, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, Texas, USA
| | - Jennifer K Vanos
- School of Sustainability, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, USA
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47
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Hu H, Zhao J, Savitz DA, Prosperi M, Zheng Y, Pearson TA. An external exposome-wide association study of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 141:105797. [PMID: 32413622 PMCID: PMC7336837 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 04/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
It is widely recognized that exogenous factors play an important role in the development of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP). However, only a few external environmental factors have been studied, often separately, with no attempt to examine the totality of the external environment, or the external exposome. We conducted an external exposome-wide association study (ExWAS) using the Florida Vital Statistics Birth Records including 819,399 women with live births in 2010-2013. A total of 5784 factors characterizing women's surrounding natural, built, and social environment during pregnancy from 10 data sources were collected, harmonized, integrated, and spatiotemporally linked to the women based on pregnancy periods using 250 m buffers around their geocoded residential addresses. A random 50:50 split divided the data into discovery and replication sets, and a 3-phase procedure was used. In phase 1, associations between HDP and individual factors were examined, and Bonferroni adjustment was performed. In phase 2, an elastic net model was used to perform variable selection among significant variables from phase 1. In phase 3, a multivariable logistic regression model including all variables selected by the elastic net model was fitted. Variables that were significant in both the discovery and replication sets were retained. Among the 528 and 490 variables identified in Phase 1, 232 and 224 were selected by the elastic net model in Phase 2, and 67 and 48 variables remained statistically significant in Phase 3 in the discovery and replication sets, respectively. A total of 12 variables were significant in both the discovery and replication sets, including air toxicants (e.g., 2,2,4-trimethylpentane), meteorological factors (e.g., omega or vertical velocity at 125mb pressure level), neighborhood crime and safety (e.g., burglary rate), and neighborhood sociodemographic status (e.g., urbanization). This is the first large external exposome study of HDP. It confirmed some of the previously reported associations and generated unexpected predictors within the environment that may warrant more focused evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Hu
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
| | - Jinying Zhao
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - David A Savitz
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Mattia Prosperi
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Yi Zheng
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Thomas A Pearson
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
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Shashar S, Kloog I, Erez O, Shtein A, Yitshak-Sade M, Sarov B, Novack L. Temperature and preeclampsia: Epidemiological evidence that perturbation in maternal heat homeostasis affects pregnancy outcome. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0232877. [PMID: 32421729 PMCID: PMC7234374 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0232877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION This study aims to determine the association between temperature and preeclampsia and whether it is affected by seasonality and rural/urban lifestyle. METHODS This cohort study included women who delivered at our medical center from 2004 to 2013 (31,101 women, 64,566 deliveries). Temperature values were obtained from a spatiotemporally resolved estimation model performing predictions at a 1×1km spatial resolution. In "Warm" pregnancies >50% of gestation occurred during the spring-summer period. In cold pregnancies >50% of gestation occurred during the fall and winter. Generalized estimating equation multivariable models were used to estimate the association between temperature and incidence of preeclampsia. RESULTS 1) The incidence of preeclampsia in at least one pregnancy was 7% (2173/64,566); 2) during "warm" pregnancies, an elevation of one IQR of the average temperature in the 1st or the 3rd trimesters was associated with an increased risk to develop preeclampsia [patients with Jewish ethnicity: 1st trimester: relative risk (RR) of 2.38(95%CI 1.50; 3.80), 3rd trimester 1.94(95%CI 1.34;2.81); Bedouins: 1st trimester: RR = 2.91(95%CI 1.98;4.28), 3rd trimester: RR = 2.37(95%CI 1.75;3.20)]; 3) In "cold" pregnancies, an elevation of one IQR of average temperature was associated with a lower risk to develop preeclampsia among patients with Bedouin-Arab ethnicity RR = 0.68 (95% CI 0.49-0.94) for 1st trimester and RR = 0.62 (95% CI 0.44-0.87) for 3rd trimester. CONCLUSIONS 1) Elevated averaged temperature during the 1st or 3rd trimesters in "warm" pregnancies confer an increased risk for the development of preeclampsia, especially in nomadic patients; 2) Of interest, during cold pregnancies, elevated averaged temperature was associated with a lower risk to develop preeclampsia for nomadic patients. 3) These findings suggest temperature might be associated with perturbations in maternal heat homeostasis resulting in reallocation of energy resources and their availability to the fetus that may increase the risk for preeclampsia. This observation is especially relevant in the context of global warming and its effects on maternal/fetal reproductive health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sagi Shashar
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Offer Erez
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Maternity Department "D", Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Alexandra Shtein
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben Gurion University, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Maayan Yitshak-Sade
- Department of Environmental Health Exposure, Epidemiology, and Risk Program Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Batia Sarov
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Heath Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
| | - Lena Novack
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beersheba, Israel
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Zhang X, Wang Y, Chen X, Zhang X. Associations between prenatal sunshine exposure and birth outcomes in China. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 713:136472. [PMID: 31955080 PMCID: PMC7047502 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2019] [Revised: 12/15/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
This paper is one of the first to examine the associations between prenatal sunshine exposure and birth outcomes, specifically the incidence of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA), based on a nationally representative birth record dataset in China. During the sample period in the 1990s, migration was limited in rural China, allowing us to address the identification challenges, like residential sorting and avoidance behaviors. We found a nonlinear relationship between the length of sunlight and birth outcomes. In particular, prenatal exposure to increasing sunshine was associated with a reduction in the incidence of LBW and SGA, especially in the second trimester during pregnancy. This finding was consistent with the clinical evidence suggesting positive effects of sunshine on birth outcomes via obtaining vitamin D or relieving maternal stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhang
- School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Yixuan Wang
- School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, China
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Yale School of Public Health, United States of America; Department of Economics, Yale University, United States of America
| | - Xun Zhang
- School of Statistics, Beijing Normal University, China; Shanghai Finance Institute, China.
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Sufriyana H, Wu YW, Su ECY. Artificial intelligence-assisted prediction of preeclampsia: Development and external validation of a nationwide health insurance dataset of the BPJS Kesehatan in Indonesia. EBioMedicine 2020; 54:102710. [PMID: 32283530 PMCID: PMC7152721 DOI: 10.1016/j.ebiom.2020.102710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background We developed and validated an artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted prediction of preeclampsia applied to a nationwide health insurance dataset in Indonesia. Methods The BPJS Kesehatan dataset have been preprocessed using a nested case-control design into preeclampsia/eclampsia (n = 3318) and normotensive pregnant women (n = 19,883) from all women with one pregnancy. The dataset provided 95 features consisting of demographic variables and medical histories started from 24 months to event and ended by delivery as the event. Six algorithms were compared by area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUROC) with a subgroup analysis by time to the event. We compared our model to similar prediction models from systematically reviewed studies. In addition, we conducted a text mining analysis based on natural language processing techniques to interpret our modeling results. Findings The best model consisted of 17 predictors extracted by a random forest algorithm. Nine∼12 months to the event was the period that had the best AUROC in external validation by either geographical (0.88, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.88–0.89) or temporal split (0.86, 95% CI 0.85–0.86). We compared this model to prediction models in seven studies from 869 records in PUBMED, EMBASE, and SCOPUS. This model outperformed the previous models in terms of the precision, sensitivity, and specificity in all validation sets. Interpretation Our low-cost model improved preliminary prediction to decide pregnant women that will be predicted by the models with high specificity and advanced predictors. Funding This work was supported by grant no. MOST108-2221-E-038-018 from the Ministry of Science and Technology of Taiwan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Herdiantri Sufriyana
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Surabaya 60237, Indonesia.
| | - Yu-Wei Wu
- Department of Medical Physiology, College of Medicine, University of Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, Surabaya 60237, Indonesia; Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Clinical Big Data Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Emily Chia-Yu Su
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Informatics, College of Medical Science and Technology, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Clinical Big Data Research Center, Taipei Medical University Hospital, Taipei 11031, Taiwan; Research Center for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
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