2024-05-05 20:21:14
He increase in temperatures caused by the climate change could lead to more premature births around the world, reports a study recent.
The researchers found a strong association between exposure to extreme heat during the third quarter of pregnancy and the risk of premature birth.
“Las high night temperatures can alter the Cardiac rhtyms and potentially influence the blood pressure, which could be a problem for pregnant people,” said the senior researcher, Yuming Guo, professor of planetary health at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia.
”Given the projected increase in extreme temperatures as our planet warms, understanding their impacts on birth outcomes and developing strategies to mitigate risks becomes crucial,” Guo added in a university news release.
In the study, the researchers followed 1.2 million births in Sydney, Australia, between 2000 and 2022, of which more than 63,000 were premature. The team cross-referenced this data with historical temperature data and other factors that can influence heat exposure, such as tree and plant cover.
Exposure to extreme heat, both daytime and nighttime, in the third trimester is strongly linked to an increased risk of preterm birth, the researchers found. Such a connection was not present in either the first or second trimester.
The strength of the association was reduced slightly for women living in areas with more trees and vegetation, raising the possibility that shade may protect pregnant women against bright heat.
The new study appears in the Feb. 26 issue of JAMA Pediatrics.
“The presence of vegetation, especially trees, has the potential to mitigate heat levels and reduce the risks of preterm birth associated with heat,” said lead researcher Shanshan Li, associate professor in the School of Public Health and Monash Preventive Medicine.
“Vegetation also has positive impacts on physical and mental health beyond pregnancy and childbirth outcomes,” Li added. “We should integrate heat mitigation strategies, such as increasing green spaces, into urban planning to improve public health.”
More information: The Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health has more information on preterm birth.
Source: Monash University