1
|
Weeda LJZ, Bradshaw CJA, Judge MA, Saraswati CM, Le Souëf PN. How climate change degrades child health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Total Environ 2024; 920:170944. [PMID: 38360325 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children are more vulnerable than adults to climate-related health threats, but reviews examining how climate change affects human health have been mainly descriptive and lack an assessment of the magnitude of health effects children face. This is the first systematic review and meta-analysis that identifies which climate-health relationships pose the greatest threats to children. OBJECTIVES We reviewed epidemiologic studies to analyse various child health outcomes due to climate change and identify the relationships with the largest effect size. We identify population-specific risks and provide recommendations for future research. METHODS We searched four large online databases for observational studies published up to 5 January 2023 following PRISMA (systematic review) guidelines. We evaluated each included study individually and aggregated relevant quantitative data. We used quantitative data in our meta-analysis, where we standardised effect sizes and compared them among different groupings of climate variables and health outcomes. RESULTS Of 1301 articles we identified, 163 studies were eligible for analysis. We identified many relationships between climate change and child health, the strongest of which was increasing risk (60 % on average) of preterm birth from exposure to temperature extremes. Respiratory disease, mortality, and morbidity, among others, were also influenced by climate changes. The effects of different air pollutants on health outcomes were considerably smaller compared to temperature effects, but with most (16/20 = 80 %) pollutant studies indicating at least a weak effect. Most studies occurred in high-income regions, but we found no geographical clustering according to health outcome, climate variable, or magnitude of risk. The following factors were protective of climate-related child-health threats: (i) economic stability and strength, (ii) access to quality healthcare, (iii) adequate infrastructure, and (iv) food security. Threats to these services vary by local geographical, climate, and socio-economic conditions. Children will have increased prevalence of disease due to anthropogenic climate change, and our quantification of the impact of various aspects of climate change on child health can contribute to the planning of mitigation that will improve the health of current and future generations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lewis J Z Weeda
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia.
| | - Corey J A Bradshaw
- Global Ecology | Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, EpicAustralia.org.au, Australia
| | - Melinda A Judge
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Department of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Peter N Le Souëf
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Perth, Western Australia, Australia; Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Saraswati CM, Judge MA, Weeda LJZ, Bassat Q, Prata N, Le Souëf PN, Bradshaw CJA. Net benefit of smaller human populations to environmental integrity and individual health and wellbeing. Front Public Health 2024; 12:1339933. [PMID: 38504675 PMCID: PMC10949988 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1339933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The global human population is still growing such that our collective enterprise is driving environmental catastrophe. Despite a decline in average population growth rate, we are still experiencing the highest annual increase of global human population size in the history of our species-averaging an additional 84 million people per year since 1990. No review to date has accumulated the available evidence describing the associations between increasing population and environmental decline, nor solutions for mitigating the problems arising. Methods We summarize the available evidence of the relationships between human population size and growth and environmental integrity, human prosperity and wellbeing, and climate change. We used PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science to identify all relevant peer-reviewed and gray-literature sources examining the consequences of human population size and growth on the biosphere. We reviewed papers describing and quantifying the risks associated with population growth, especially relating to climate change. Results These risks are global in scale, such as greenhouse-gas emissions, climate disruption, pollution, loss of biodiversity, and spread of disease-all potentially catastrophic for human standards of living, health, and general wellbeing. The trends increasing the risks of global population growth are country development, demographics, maternal education, access to family planning, and child and maternal health. Conclusion Support for nations still going through a demographic transition is required to ensure progress occurs within planetary boundaries and promotes equity and human rights. Ensuring the wellbeing for all under this aim itself will lower population growth and further promote environmental sustainability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Melinda A. Judge
- Telethon Kids Institute, Perth, WA, Australia
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Lewis J. Z. Weeda
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Quique Bassat
- ISGlobal, Hospital Clínic - Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde de Manhiça (CISM), Maputo, Mozambique
- Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Paediatrics Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Universitat de Barcelona, Esplugues, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red (CIBER) de Epidemiología y Salud Pública, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ndola Prata
- Bixby Center for Population Health and Sustainability, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, United States
| | - Peter N. Le Souëf
- School of Medicine, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, WA, Australia
| | - Corey J. A. Bradshaw
- Global Ecology | Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Youssim I, Erez O, Novack L, Nevo D, Kloog I, Raz R. Ambient temperature and preeclampsia: A historical cohort study. Environ Res 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] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Singh T, Jalaludin B, Hajat S, Morgan GG, Meissner K, Kaldor J, Green D, Jegasothy E. Acute air pollution and temperature exposure as independent and joint triggers of spontaneous preterm birth in New South Wales, Australia: a time-to-event analysis. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1220797. [PMID: 38098836 PMCID: PMC10720724 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1220797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Exposure to high ambient temperatures and air pollution has been shown to increase the risk of spontaneous preterm birth (sPTB). Less clear are the effects of cold and the joint effects of air pollution and temperature. Methods Using a Cox proportional hazard regression model, we assessed the risk of independent and combined short-term exposure to ambient daily mean temperature and PM2.5 associated with sPTB in the last week before delivery on overall sPTB (weeks 23-36) and three subtypes: extremely sPTB, very sPTB, and moderate-to-late sPTB for a birth cohort of 1,318,570 births from Australia (Jan 2001-Dec 2019), while controlling for chronic exposure (i.e., throughout pregnancy except the last week before delivery) to PM2.5 and temperature. The temperature was modeled as a natural cubic spline, PM2.5 as a linear term, and the interaction effect was estimated using a multiplicative term. For short-term exposure to temperature hazard ratios reported are relative to the median temperature (18.1°C). Results Hazard ratios at low temperature [5th percentile(11.5°C)] were 0.95 (95% CI: 0.90, 1.00), 1.08 (95% CI: 0.84, 1.4), 0.87 (95% CI: 0.71, 1.06), and 1.00 (95% CI: 0.94, 1.06) and greater for high temperature [95th percentile (24.5°C)]: 1.22 (95% CI: 1.16, 1.28), 1.27 (95% CI: 1.03, 1.57), and 1.26 (95% CI: 1.05, 1.5) and 1.05 (1.00, 1.11), respectively, for overall, extremely, very, and moderate-to-late sPTBs. While chronic exposure to PM2.5 had adverse effects on sPTB, short-term exposure to PM2.5 appeared to have a negative association with all types of sPTB, with hazard ratios ranging from 0.86 (95th CI: 0.80, 0.94) to 0.98 (95th CI: 0.97, 1.00) per 5 μg/m3 increase in PM2.5. Discussion The risk of sPTB was found to increase following acute exposure to hot and cold ambient temperatures. Earlier sPTB subtypes seemed to be the most vulnerable. This study adds to the evidence that short-term exposure to ambient cold and heat and longer term gestational exposure to ambient PM2.5 are associated with an elevated risk of sPTB.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanya Singh
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Bin Jalaludin
- School of Population Health, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia
- Ingham Institute for Applied Medical Research, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
| | - Geoffrey G. Morgan
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- University Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, Australia
- Healthy Environments and Lives (HEAL) National Research Network, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
- Centre for Air Pollution, Energy and Health Research (CAR), Glebe, NSW, Australia
| | - Katrin Meissner
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - John Kaldor
- Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Donna Green
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Climate Extremes, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Edward Jegasothy
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW, Australia
- University Centre for Rural Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Lismore, NSW, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Mehta M, Basu R, Ghosh R. Adverse effects of temperature on perinatal and pregnancy outcomes: methodological challenges and knowledge gaps. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1185836. [PMID: 38026314 PMCID: PMC10646498 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1185836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Evidence linking temperature with adverse perinatal and pregnancy outcomes is emerging. We searched for literature published until 30 January 2023 in PubMed, Web of Science, and reference lists of articles focusing on the outcomes that were most studied like preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy. A review of the literature reveals important gaps in knowledge and several methodological challenges. One important gap is the lack of knowledge of how core body temperature modulates under extreme ambient temperature exposure during pregnancy. We do not know the magnitude of non-modulation of body temperature during pregnancy that is clinically significant, i.e., when the body starts triggering physiologic counterbalances. Furthermore, few studies are conducted in places where extreme temperature conditions are more frequently encountered, such as in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. Little is also known about specific cost-effective interventions that can be implemented in vulnerable communities to reduce adverse outcomes. As the threat of global warming looms large, effective interventions are critically necessary to mitigate its effects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maitry Mehta
- Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Rupa Basu
- California Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, Oakland, CA, United States
| | - Rakesh Ghosh
- Sawyer Business School, Suffolk University, Boston, MA, United States
- Institute for Health and Aging, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Ruan T, Yue Y, Lu W, Zhou R, Xiong T, Jiang Y, Ying J, Tang J, Shi J, Wang H, Xiao G, Li J, Qu Y, Mu D. Association between low ambient temperature during pregnancy and adverse birth outcomes: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Chin Med J (Engl) 2023; 136:2307-2315. [PMID: 36805588 PMCID: PMC10538931 DOI: 10.1097/cm9.0000000000002361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extreme temperature events, including extreme cold, are becoming more frequent worldwide, which might be harmful to pregnant women and cause adverse birth outcomes. We aimed to investigate the association between exposure to low ambient temperature in pregnant women and adverse birth outcomes, such as preterm birth, low birth weight, and stillbirth, and to summarize the evidence herein. METHODS Relevant studies were searched in PubMed, Cochrane, and Embase electronic databases until November 2021. Studies involving low ambient temperature, preterm birth, birth weight, and stillbirth were included. The guidelines of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses were followed to conduct this study risk of bias and methods for data synthesis. RESULTS A total of 34 studies were included. First, pregnant women exposed to low ambient temperature had an increased risk of preterm birth (risk ratio [RR] 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.13). Subgroup analyses revealed that exposure during late pregnancy was more likely to induce preterm birth. In addition, only pregnant women exposed to <1st percentile of the mean temperature suffered increased risk of preterm birth. Moreover, pregnant women living in medium or hot areas were more prone to have preterm births than those in cold areas when exposed to low ambient temperatures. Asians and Blacks were more susceptible to low ambient temperatures than Caucasians. Second, pregnant women exposed to low ambient temperature had an increased risk of low birth weight (RR 1.07; 95% CI 1.03-1.12). Third, pregnant women had an increased risk of stillbirth while exposed to low ambient temperature during the entire pregnancy (RR 4.63; 95% CI 3.99-5.38). CONCLUSIONS Exposure to low ambient temperature during pregnancy increases the risk of adverse birth outcomes. Pregnant women should avoid exposure to extremely low ambient temperature (<1st percentile of the mean temperature), especially in their late pregnancy. This study could provide clues for preventing adverse outcomes from meteorological factors. REGISTRATION No. CRD42021259776 at PROSPERO ( https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/ ).
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tiechao Ruan
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yan Yue
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Wenting Lu
- Department of General Practice, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Ruixi Zhou
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Tao Xiong
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yin Jiang
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Junjie Ying
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jun Tang
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jing Shi
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Guoguang Xiao
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Jinhui Li
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Yi Qu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| | - Dezhi Mu
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
- Key Laboratory of Obstetrics and Gynecologic and Pediatric Diseases and Birth Defects of the Ministry of Education, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan 610041, China
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Yu G, Yang L, Liu M, Wang C, Shen X, Fan L, Zhang J. Extreme Temperature Exposure and Risks of Preterm Birth Subtypes Based on a Nationwide Survey in China. Environ Health Perspect 2023; 131:87009. [PMID: 37585350 PMCID: PMC10431497 DOI: 10.1289/ehp10831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous studies have reported that ambient temperature may affect perinatal outcomes. However, whether extreme temperature affects the risk of preterm birth (PTB) remains controversial. Studies on the associations of extreme temperature with PTB subtypes are lacking. OBJECTIVES We aimed to investigate the associations of extreme climate events with the risks of PTB and its subtypes, discerning possible modifiers. METHODS Data on all singleton deliveries were obtained from the China Labor and Delivery Survey (CLDS), a nationwide investigation implemented in 2015 and 2016. PTB was defined as gestational weeks < 37 and then categorized as early (24-34 wk) and late PTBs (35-36 wk), and clinical subtypes [spontaneous PTB, preterm premature rupture of the fetal membranes (PPROM), iatrogenic PTB]. Ambient temperature data were provided by the China National Weather Data Sharing System. Five heat indexes and five cold indexes were used to define heat waves and cold spells. Generalized linear mixed models with a random term by hospital unit were used to assess the associations of short-term prenatal extreme temperature exposure. The Cox proportional hazard regression model was applied to assess the nonlinear associations of low- or high-temperature exposure at the whole and different trimesters of pregnancy with the risk of PTB. Stratified analyses were conducted to assess the possible modification by geographic region and fetal sex. RESULTS A total of 70,818 singleton births from 96 hospitals in China were included, among which 4,965 (7.01%) were PTBs. Exposure to extreme cold events 1 wk before delivery was associated with an increased PTB risk, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) [95% confidence intervals (CIs)] of 1.07 (95% CI: 1.04, 1.10) and 1.06 (1.04, 1.09) for the total days when the daily average temperature below the fifth percentile (fifth-days) and the 10th percentile (10th-days), 1.18 (1.04, 1.34) for the cold spells when the daily average temperature below the fifth percentile for two consecutive days (fifth-2D), 1.09 (1.03, 1.16) and 1.12 (1.06, 1.19) for the cold spells when the daily average temperature below the 10th percentile for three and two consecutive days (10th-3D and 10th-2D), respectively. Results of extreme temperature exposure during 2 weeks before delivery showed similarly significant associations. The association between cold spells and PTB tended to be stronger for late PTB than for early PTB. Cold spells were mainly associated with spontaneous PTB and late PPROM. A stratified analysis indicated that pregnant women in western and northern regions tended to be more sensitive to cold spells, and pregnant women with a female fetus appeared to be at a higher risk of PTB when exposed to cold spells. Pregnant women in late pregnancy were more susceptible to extreme temperatures. No significant or stable association was found between heat waves and preterm birth. DISCUSSION Exposure to cold spells was associated with an increased risk of PTB, especially late, spontaneous PTB and PPROM. The associations appeared to be more pronounced in the north and west regions and in pregnancies with female fetuses. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP10831.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guoqi Yu
- Ministry of Education – Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Yang
- Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center, Hainan, China
| | - Ming Liu
- Department of Obstetrics, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cuiping Wang
- Ministry of Education – Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaoli Shen
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Public Health, Shanghai, China
| | - Lichun Fan
- Hainan Women and Children’s Medical Center, Hainan, China
| | - Jun Zhang
- Ministry of Education – Shanghai Key Laboratory of Children’s Environmental Health, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Public Health, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Zhao S, Xu J, Li W, Lu Y, Huang L, Xu H, Shi M, Wang Y, Zhu Q, Xu Q. High-temperature exposure and risk of spontaneous abortion during early pregnancy: a case-control study in Nanjing, China. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2023; 30:29807-29813. [PMID: 36418820 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-24315-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
As one of the most common complications of early pregnancy, spontaneous abortion is associated with environmental factors, but reports estimating the effect of ambient temperature on spontaneous abortion are still inconclusive. Herein, a case-control study (1002 cases and 2004 controls) in Nanjing, China, from 2017 to 2021 was conducted to evaluate the association between temperature exposure and the risk of spontaneous abortion by using distributed lag nonlinear model (DLNM). As a result, daily mean temperature exposure and early spontaneous abortion showed a nonlinear relationship in 14-day lag periods. Moreover, taking the median temperature (17 °C) as a reference, gradually increased positive effects of high temperature on spontaneous abortion could be found during the 4 days prior to hospitalization, and the highest odds ratio (OR) of 2.07 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.36, 3.16) at extremely hot temperature (33 °C) was observed at 1 lag day. The results suggested that high-temperature exposure in short times during early pregnancy might increase the risk of SAB. Thus, our findings highlight the potential risk of short-term high-temperature exposure during early pregnancy, and more evidence was given for the effects of climate change on maternal health.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuangshuang Zhao
- Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Jie Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Yingying Lu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Linxiang Huang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Haoyi Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Mingxia Shi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Qiaoying Zhu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China
| | - Qing Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Nanjing, 210004, China.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Hough I, Rolland M, Guilbert A, Seyve E, Heude B, Slama R, Lyon-Caen S, Pin I, Chevrier C, Kloog I, Lepeule J. Early delivery following chronic and acute ambient temperature exposure: a comprehensive survival approach. Int J Epidemiol 2022:6765151. [DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyac190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Ambient temperature, particularly heat, is increasingly acknowledged as a trigger for preterm delivery but study designs have been limited and results mixed. We aimed to comprehensively evaluate the association between ambient temperature throughout pregnancy and preterm delivery.
Methods
We estimated daily temperature throughout pregnancy using a cutting-edge spatiotemporal model for 5347 live singleton births from three prospective cohorts in France, 2002–2018. We performed Cox regression (survival analysis) with distributed lags to evaluate time-varying associations with preterm birth simultaneously controlling for exposure during the first 26 weeks and last 30 days of pregnancy. We examined weekly mean, daytime, night-time and variability of temperature, and heatwaves accounting for adaptation to location and season.
Results
Preterm birth risk was higher following cold (5th vs 50th percentile of mean temperature) 7–9 weeks after conception [relative risk (RR): 1.3, 95% CI: 1.0–1.6 for 2°C vs 11.6°C] and 10–4 days before delivery (RR: 1.6, 95% CI: 1.1–2.1 for 1.2°C vs 12.1°C). Night-time heat (95th vs 50th percentile of minimum temperature; 15.7°C vs 7.4°C) increased risk when exposure occurred within 5 weeks of conception (RR: 2.0, 95% CI: 1.05–3.8) or 20–26 weeks after conception (RR: 2.9, 95% CI: 1.2–6.8). Overall and daytime heat (high mean and maximum temperature) showed consistent effects. We found no clear associations with temperature variability or heatwave indicators, suggesting they may be less relevant for preterm birth.
Conclusions
In a temperate climate, night-time heat and chronic and acute cold exposures were associated with increased risk of preterm birth. These results suggest night-time heat as a relevant indicator. In the context of rising temperatures and more frequent weather hazards, these results should inform public health policies to reduce the growing burden of preterm births.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ian Hough
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Matthieu Rolland
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
| | - Ariane Guilbert
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
| | - Emie Seyve
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
- Université de Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS) , Paris, France
| | - Barbara Heude
- Université de Paris Cité, Inserm, INRAE, Centre of Research in Epidemiology and StatisticS (CRESS) , Paris, France
| | - Rémy Slama
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
| | - Sarah Lyon-Caen
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
| | - Isabelle Pin
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
- Department of Paediatric Pneumology, Grenoble Teaching Hospital , La Tronche, France
| | - Cécile Chevrier
- Université Rennes, INSERM, EHESP, IRSET (Research Institute for Environmental and Occupational Health) , Rennes, France
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev , Be’er Sheva, Israel
| | - Johanna Lepeule
- Université Grenoble Alpes, INSERM, CNRS, Institute for Advanced Biosciences (IAB), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Development and Respiratory Health , La Tronche, France
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
de Bont J, Stafoggia M, Nakstad B, Hajat S, Kovats S, Part C, Chersich M, Luchters S, Filippi V, Stephansson O, Ljungman P, Roos N. Associations between ambient temperature and risk of preterm birth in Sweden: A comparison of analytical approaches. Environ Res 2022; 213:113586. [PMID: 35671796 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evidence indicates that high temperatures are a risk factor for preterm birth. Increasing heat exposures due to climate change are therefore a concern for pregnant women. However, the large heterogeneity of study designs and statistical methods across previous studies complicate interpretation and comparisons. We investigated associations of short-term exposure to high ambient temperature with preterm birth in Sweden, applying three complementary analytical approaches. METHODS We included 560,615 singleton live births between 2014 and 2019, identified in the Swedish Pregnancy Register. We estimated weekly mean temperatures at 1-km2 spatial resolution using a spatiotemporal machine learning methodology, and assigned them at the residential addresses of the study participants. The main outcomes of the study were gestational age in weeks and subcategories of preterm birth (<37 weeks): extremely preterm birth (<28 weeks), very preterm birth (from week 28 to <32), and moderately preterm birth (from week 32 to<37). Case-crossover, quantile regression and time-to-event analyses were applied to estimate the effects of short-term exposure to increased ambient temperature during the week before birth on preterm births. Furthermore, distributed lag nonlinear models (DLNM) were applied to identify susceptibility windows of exposures throughout pregnancy in relation to preterm birth. RESULTS A total of 1924 births were extremely preterm (0.4%), 2636 very preterm (0.5%), and 23,664 moderately preterm (4.2%). Consistent across all three analytical approaches (case-crossover, quantile regression and time-to-event analyses), higher ambient temperature (95th vs 50th percentile) demonstrated increased risk of extremely preterm birth, but associations did not reach statistical significance. In DLNM models, we observed no evidence to suggest an increased effect of high temperature on preterm birth risk. Even so, a suggested trend was observed in both the quantile regression and time-to-event analyses of a higher risk of extremely preterm birth with higher temperature during the last week before birth. CONCLUSIONS In Sweden, with high quality data on exposure and outcome, a temperate climate and good quality ante-natal health care, we did not find an association between high ambient temperatures and preterm births. Results were consistent across three complementary analytical approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen de Bont
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden.
| | - Massimo Stafoggia
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Epidemiology, Lazio Region Health Service, ASL Roma 1, Italy
| | - Britt Nakstad
- Division Paediatric Adolescent Medicine, Inst Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department Paediatrics and Adolescent Health, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Sari Kovats
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Chérie Part
- Centre on Climate Change and Planetary Health, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Matthew Chersich
- Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute, Faculty of Health Science, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa
| | - Stanley Luchters
- Centre for Sexual Health and HIV/AIDS Research, CeSHHAR, Harare, Zimbabwe; Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Ghent University, Belgium; Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Veronique Filippi
- Faculty of Epidemiology and Population Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK
| | - Olof Stephansson
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| | - Petter Ljungman
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden; Department of Cardiology, Danderyd University Hospital, Sweden
| | - Nathalie Roos
- Clinical Epidemiology Division, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Dalugoda Y, Kuppa J, Phung H, Rutherford S, Phung D. Effect of Elevated Ambient Temperature on Maternal, Foetal, and Neonatal Outcomes: A Scoping Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:ijerph19031771. [PMID: 35162797 PMCID: PMC8835067 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19031771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
This scoping review provides an overview of the published literature, identifies research gaps, and summarises the current evidence of the association between elevated ambient temperature exposure during pregnancy and adverse maternal, foetal, and neonatal outcomes. Following the PRISMA extension for scoping reviews reporting guidelines, a systematic search was conducted on CINAHL, PubMed, and Embase and included original articles published in the English language from 2015 to 2020 with no geographical limitations. A total of seventy-five studies were included, conducted across twenty-four countries, with a majority in the USA (n = 23) and China (n = 13). Study designs, temperature metrics, and exposure windows varied considerably across studies. Of the eighteen heat-associated adverse maternal, foetal, and neonatal outcomes identified, pre-term birth was the most common outcome (n = 30), followed by low birth weight (n = 11), stillbirth (n = 9), and gestational diabetes mellitus (n = 8). Overall, papers reported an increased risk with elevated temperature exposures. Less attention has been paid to relationships between heat and the diverse range of other adverse outcomes such as congenital anomalies and neonatal mortality. Further research on these less-reported outcomes is needed to improve understanding and the effect size of these relationships with elevated temperatures, which we know will be exacerbated by climate change.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yohani Dalugoda
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (J.K.); (H.P.); (S.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Jyothi Kuppa
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (J.K.); (H.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Hai Phung
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (J.K.); (H.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Shannon Rutherford
- School of Medicine and Dentistry, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4222, Australia; (J.K.); (H.P.); (S.R.)
| | - Dung Phung
- School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4006, Australia;
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
van den Bosch M, Basagaña X, Mudu P, Kendrovski V, Maitre L, Hjertager Krog N, Aasvang GM, Grazuleviciene R, McEachan R, Vrijheid M, Nieuwenhuijsen MJ. Green CURIOCITY: a study protocol for a European birth cohort study analysing childhood heat-related health impacts and protective effects of urban natural environments. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e052537. [PMID: 35074814 PMCID: PMC8788192 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/04/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION The European climate is getting warmer and the impact on childhood health and development is insufficiently understood. Equally, how heat-related health risks can be reduced through nature-based solutions, such as exposure to urban natural environments, is unknown. Green CURe In Outdoor CITY spaces (Green CURIOCITY) will analyse how heat exposure during pregnancy affects birth outcomes and how long-term heat exposure may influence children's neurodevelopment. We will also investigate if adverse effects can be mitigated by urban natural environments. A final goal is to visualise intraurban patterns of heat vulnerability and assist planning towards healthier cities. METHODS AND ANALYSIS We will use existing data from the Human Early-Life Exposure cohort, which includes information on birth outcomes and neurodevelopment from six European birth cohorts. The cohort is linked to data on prenatal heat exposure and impact on birth outcomes will be analysed with logistic regression models, adjusting for air pollution and noise and sociobehavioural covariates. Similarly, impact of cumulative and immediate heat exposure on neurodevelopmental outcomes at age 5 will be assessed. For both analyses, the potentially moderating impact of natural environments will be quantified. For visualisation, Geographical information systems data will be combined to develop vulnerability maps, demonstrating urban 'hot spots' where the risk of negative impacts of heat is aggravated due to sociodemographic and land use patterns. Finally, geospatial and meteorological data will be used for informing GreenUr, an existing software prototype developed by the WHO Regional Office for Europe to quantify health impacts and augment policy tools for urban green space planning. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The protocol was approved by the Comité Ético de Investigación Clínica Parc de Salut MAR, Spain. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at policy events. Through stakeholder engagement, the results will also reach user groups and practitioners.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matilda van den Bosch
- Air pollution and Urban Environment, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Basagaña
- Air pollution and Urban Environment, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Pierpaolo Mudu
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Vladimir Kendrovski
- World Health Organization European Centre for Environment and Health, Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Léa Maitre
- Air pollution and Urban Environment, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Gunn Marit Aasvang
- Air Quality and Noise, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Regina Grazuleviciene
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Vytauto Didziojo Universitetas, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | | | - Martine Vrijheid
- Air pollution and Urban Environment, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mark J Nieuwenhuijsen
- Air pollution and Urban Environment, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Cushing L, Morello-Frosch R, Hubbard A. Extreme heat and its association with social disparities in the risk of spontaneous preterm birth. Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol 2022; 36:13-22. [PMID: 34951022 DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of heatwaves. Prior studies associate high temperature with preterm birth. OBJECTIVES We tested the hypotheses that acute exposure to extreme heat was associated with higher risk of live spontaneous preterm birth (≥20 and <37 completed weeks), and that risks were higher among people of colour and neighbourhoods with heat-trapping landcover or concentrated racialised economic disadvantage. METHODS We conducted a retrospective cohort study of people giving birth between 2007 and 2011 in Harris County, Texas (Houston metropolitan area) (n = 198,013). Exposures were daily ambient apparent temperature (ATmax in 5°C increments) and dry-bulb temperatures (Tmax and Tmin >historical [1971-2000] summertime 99th percentile) up to a week prior for each day of pregnancy. Survival analysis controlled for individual-level risk factors, secular and seasonal trends. We considered race/ethnicity, heat-trapping neighbourhood landcover and Index of Concentration at the Extremes as effect modifiers. RESULTS The frequency of preterm birth was 10.3%. A quarter (26.8%) of people were exposed to ATmax ≥40°C, and 22.8% were exposed to Tmax and Tmin >99th percentile while at risk. The preterm birth rate among the exposed was 8.9%. In multivariable models, the risk of preterm birth was 15% higher following extremely hot days (hazard ratio [HR] 1.15 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.01, 1.30) for ATmax ≥40°C vs. <20°C; HR 1.15 (95% CI 1.02, 1.28) for Tmax and Tmin >99th percentile). Censoring at earlier gestational ages suggested stronger associations earlier in pregnancy. The risk difference associated with extreme heat was higher in neighbourhoods of concentrated racialised economic disadvantage. CONCLUSIONS Ambient heat was associated with spontaneous preterm birth, with stronger associations earlier in pregnancy and in racially and economically disadvantaged neighbourhoods, suggesting climate change may worsen existing social inequities in preterm birth rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lara Cushing
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy & Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA.,School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Alan Hubbard
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
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. Environ Health Perspect 2021; 129:107001. [PMID: 34643443 PMCID: PMC8513522 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Gat R, Kachko E, Kloog I, Erez O, Yitshak-Sade M, Novack V, Novack L. Differences in environmental factors contributing to preterm labor and PPROM - Population based study. Environ Res 2021; 196:110894. [PMID: 33609551 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.110894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous reports indicate an association between ambient temperature (Ta) and air pollution exposure during pregnancy and preterm birth (PTB). Nevertheless, information regarding the association between environmental factors and specific precursors of spontaneous preterm birth is lacking. We aimed to determine the association between Ta and air pollution during gestation and the precursors of spontaneous preterm parturition, i.e. preterm labor (PTL) and preterm prelabor rupture of membranes (PPROM). METHODS From 2003 to 2013 there were 84,476 deliveries of singleton gestation that comprised the study cohort. Exposure data during pregnancy included daily measurements of temperature and particulate matter <2.5 μm and <10 μm, PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. Deliveries were grouped into PPROM, PTL and non-spontaneous preterm and term deliveries. Exposure effect was tested in windows of a week and two days prior to admission for delivery and adjusted to gestational age and socio-economic status. Poisson regression models were used for analyses. RESULTS There is an association of environmental exposure with the precursors of spontaneous preterm parturition; PPROM was more sensitive to Ta fluctuations than PTL. This effect was modified by the ethnicity, Bedouin-Arabs were susceptible to elevated Ta, especially within the last day prior to admission with PPROM (Relative Risk (RR) =1.19 [95% CI, 1.03; 1.37]). Jews, on the other hand, were susceptible to ambient pollutants, two (RR=1.025 [1.010; 1.040]) and one (RR= 1.017 [1.002; 1.033]) days prior to spontaneous PTL with intact membranes resulting in preterm birth. CONCLUSION High temperature is an independent risk factor for PPROM among Bedouin-Arabs; ambient pollution is an independent risk factor for spontaneous PTL resulting in preterm birth. Thus, the precursors of spontaneous preterm parturition differ in their association with environmental factors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Roni Gat
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel.
| | - Eric Kachko
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Itai Kloog
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Ben-Gurion University, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Offer Erez
- Maternity Department "D" Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - Maayan Yitshak-Sade
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Department of Environmental Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, USA
| | - Victor Novack
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel
| | - Lena Novack
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer-Sheva, Israel; Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Be'er-Sheva, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kranc H, Novack V, Shtein A, Sherman R, Novack L. Extreme temperature and out-of-hospital-cardiac-arrest. Nationwide study in a hot climate country. Environ Health 2021; 20:38. [PMID: 33820550 PMCID: PMC8022396 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00722-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Out-of-hospital-cardiac arrest (OHCA) is frequently linked to environmental exposures. Climate change and global warming phenomenon have been found related to cardiovascular morbidity, however there is no agreement on their impact on OHCA occurrence. In this nationwide analysis, we aimed to assess the incidence of the OHCA events attended by emergency medical services (EMS), in relation to meteorological conditions: temperature, humidity, heat index and solar radiation. METHODS We analyzed all adult cases of OHCA in Israel attended by EMS during 2016-2017. In the case-crossover design, we compared ambient exposure within 72 h prior to the OHCA event with exposure prior to the four control times using conditional logistic regression in a lag-distributed non-linear model. RESULTS There were 12,401 OHCA cases (68.3% were pronounced dead-on-scene). The patients were on average 75.5 ± 16.2 years old and 55.8% of them were males. Exposure to 90th and 10th percentile of temperature adjusted to humidity were positively associated with the OHCA with borderline significance (Odds Ratio (OR) =1.20, 95%CI 0.97; 1.49 and OR 1.16, 95%CI 0.95; 1.41, respectively). Relative humidity below the 10th percentile was a risk factor for OHCA, independent of temperature, with borderline significance (OR = 1.16, 95%CI 0.96; 1.38). Analysis stratified by seasons revealed an adverse effect of exposure to 90th percentile of temperature when estimated in summer (OR = 3.34, 95%CI 1.90; 3.5.86) and exposure to temperatures below 10th percentile in winter (OR = 1.75, 95%CI 1.23; 2.49). Low temperatures during a warm season and high temperatures during a cold season had a protective effect on OHCA. The heat index followed a similar pattern, where an adverse effect was demonstrated for extreme levels of exposure. CONCLUSIONS Evolving climate conditions characterized by excessive heat and low humidity represent risk factors for OHCA. As these conditions are easily avoided, by air conditioning and behavioral restrictions, necessary prevention measures are warranted.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hannan Kranc
- Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Victor Novack
- Clinical Research Center, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
- Department of Internal Medicine, Soroka University Medical Center, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Alexandra Shtein
- Department of Geography and Environmental Development, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | | | - Lena Novack
- Negev Environmental Health Research Institute, Soroka University Medical Center, 84101 Beer Sheva, Israel
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| |
Collapse
|