NEW research from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, has identified a relationship between extreme heat exposure and preterm birth risk.
With an increase in the frequency of extreme heat days, Shanshan Li, associate professor of environmental change and global health at Monash University, and colleagues, conducted a cohort study to investigate the impact of extreme day and nighttime heat exposure across different trimesters in pregnancy. Commenting on the topic, Li said: “Our understanding of the relationship between heat exposure and preterm birth remains limited, and furthermore, the potential mitigating effects of green spaces or trees on heat-related preterm birth are not yet fully understood.”
The study cohort was comprised of 1,225,722 singleton live births, including 63,144 preterm births, from 2000–2020 in Sydney, Australia. The researchers analysed data relating to birth details, access to green spaces, and weather. Results revealed an elevated risk of preterm birth following daily extreme heat (adjusted odds ratio: 1.61; 95% confidence interval: 1.55–1.67) and nighttime extreme heat (adjusted odds ratio: 1.51; 95% confidence interval: 1.46–1.56) in the third trimester. Li highlighted that this association was only observed in the third trimester, but emphasised that extreme heat is not recommended throughout the entire duration of pregnancy. “This intriguing nuance prompts further exploration and underscores the complexity of the relationship between heat exposure and prenatal outcomes,” she stated.
Looking to the future, Li urged for wider scale studies to be conducted to gain a deeper understanding of the economic ramifications linked with heat exposure, and to design approaches “that can inform policy decisions and interventions aimed at safeguarding public health and promoting resilience in the face of climate-related challenges.”
