Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis

Background The aetiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) is multifactorial. Environmental risk factors have emerged as an important modifiable determinant of several congenital cardiac conditions. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between CHD and air pollution. Much less is known a...

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Main Authors: Manu Raj, Raman Krishna Kumar, Poornima Prabhakaran, Hisham Ahamed, Georg Gutjahr, Perraju Bendapudi, Aparna Hari, Malavika Krishnakumar
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2024-12-01
Series:BMJ Paediatrics Open
Online Access:https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/1/e002848.full
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author Manu Raj
Raman Krishna Kumar
Poornima Prabhakaran
Hisham Ahamed
Georg Gutjahr
Perraju Bendapudi
Aparna Hari
Malavika Krishnakumar
author_facet Manu Raj
Raman Krishna Kumar
Poornima Prabhakaran
Hisham Ahamed
Georg Gutjahr
Perraju Bendapudi
Aparna Hari
Malavika Krishnakumar
author_sort Manu Raj
collection DOAJ
description Background The aetiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) is multifactorial. Environmental risk factors have emerged as an important modifiable determinant of several congenital cardiac conditions. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between CHD and air pollution. Much less is known about the influence of ambient temperature on CHD. The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the association between exposure to extreme heat events (EHE) during pregnancy and CHD in the offspring.Methods comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as Scopus and PubMed, along with a review of secondary references. This process yielded eight studies that met the inclusion criteria: four from the USA, two from China, one from Israel and one from Canada. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Mixed-effect regression was used to pool the estimates of individual studies. Heterogeneity was measured by I2. Results were visualised by a forest plot, a Baujat plot and an albatross plot. Subgroup analyses were performed for climate zones, exposure definitions and the study region. As a sensitivity analysis, a leave-one-out meta-analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the estimates.Results Exposure to EHE during pregnancy increased the risk for CHD in the offspring (OR=1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.34). Studies from the USA observed the smallest effect (OR=1.01, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.13), studies in the continental climate zone observed a slightly larger effect (OR=1.07, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.19), and studies from the temperate climate zone observed the largest effect (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.48). Subgroup analysis was conducted with respect to exposure, effect definition and region. The residual heterogeneity measures were 88% (exposure), 61% (effect definition) and 38% (Region).Conclusion The association between prenatal EHE exposure and future risk of CHD has important implications for pregnant mothers, infant health and health policy. Future studies should explore the additional burden of CHD contributed by current trends in global ambient temperature in other parts of the world.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023455934
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spelling doaj-art-2e7ae099fb744394a2fced9644f7ff302025-08-20T01:57:51ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Paediatrics Open2399-97722024-12-018110.1136/bmjpo-2024-002848Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysisManu Raj0Raman Krishna Kumar1Poornima Prabhakaran2Hisham Ahamed3Georg Gutjahr4Perraju Bendapudi5Aparna Hari6Malavika Krishnakumar7Health Sciences Research, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, Kerala, IndiaAmrita Institute of Medical SciencesCentre for Chronic Disease Control, New Delhi, Delhi, Indiacardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences, Kochi, IndiaAmrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, IndiaNeonatology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Cochin, Kerala, IndiaDepartment of Cardiology, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, IndiaMasters in Mathematics and Data Science, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Kochi, Kerala, IndiaBackground The aetiology of congenital heart disease (CHD) is multifactorial. Environmental risk factors have emerged as an important modifiable determinant of several congenital cardiac conditions. Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between CHD and air pollution. Much less is known about the influence of ambient temperature on CHD. The primary objective of this meta-analysis was to examine the association between exposure to extreme heat events (EHE) during pregnancy and CHD in the offspring.Methods comprehensive literature search was conducted using electronic databases such as Scopus and PubMed, along with a review of secondary references. This process yielded eight studies that met the inclusion criteria: four from the USA, two from China, one from Israel and one from Canada. The risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa scale. Mixed-effect regression was used to pool the estimates of individual studies. Heterogeneity was measured by I2. Results were visualised by a forest plot, a Baujat plot and an albatross plot. Subgroup analyses were performed for climate zones, exposure definitions and the study region. As a sensitivity analysis, a leave-one-out meta-analysis was performed to assess the robustness of the estimates.Results Exposure to EHE during pregnancy increased the risk for CHD in the offspring (OR=1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.34). Studies from the USA observed the smallest effect (OR=1.01, 95% CI 0.91 to 1.13), studies in the continental climate zone observed a slightly larger effect (OR=1.07, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.19), and studies from the temperate climate zone observed the largest effect (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.23 to 1.48). Subgroup analysis was conducted with respect to exposure, effect definition and region. The residual heterogeneity measures were 88% (exposure), 61% (effect definition) and 38% (Region).Conclusion The association between prenatal EHE exposure and future risk of CHD has important implications for pregnant mothers, infant health and health policy. Future studies should explore the additional burden of CHD contributed by current trends in global ambient temperature in other parts of the world.PROSPERO registration number CRD42023455934https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/1/e002848.full
spellingShingle Manu Raj
Raman Krishna Kumar
Poornima Prabhakaran
Hisham Ahamed
Georg Gutjahr
Perraju Bendapudi
Aparna Hari
Malavika Krishnakumar
Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis
BMJ Paediatrics Open
title Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis
title_full Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis
title_fullStr Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis
title_full_unstemmed Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis
title_short Impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring: a meta-analysis
title_sort impact of exposure to extreme heat events during pregnancy on the incidence of congenital heart disease in offspring a meta analysis
url https://bmjpaedsopen.bmj.com/content/8/1/e002848.full
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