The analysis of lung function of 343 fetuses and newborns shows a clear association between respiratory rate and volume with extremely cold or extremely warm outside temperatures during pregnancy – but only in female infants.
Background
The influence of extreme perinatal outdoor temperatures on child health and lung function has been little studied.
Design
For the population-based cohort study SEPAGES, pregnant women were recruited in France between 2014 and 2017 and data from 343 mother-child pairs on home temperature exposure and lung function (tidal volume, nitrogen flushing, etc.) were recorded.
Results
- The median age of the mothers was 32 years.The median temperature during pregnancy was 12.7 degrees, with maximum temperatures measured at 22.8 degrees in July and the lowest at 3.0 degrees in January.
- In female newborns, long-term heat exposure (95th versus 50th percentile of mean temperature) was associated with reduced residual functional capacity during gestational weeks 20-35 and at weeks 0-4 after delivery: -39.7 mL; 95% confidence interval – 68.6 to -10.7 at 24 versus 12 degrees. The respiration rate was increased at gestational weeks 20 – 35 and at week 1 after birth, namely by 28.0 / min (95% CI 4.2 – 51.9).
- Female newborns exposed to particular cold over the long term (5th versus 50th percentiles of mean temperature) also had impaired lung function: residual capacity at weeks 15-29 gestation was 21.9 mL lower (95% CI -42.4 to -1.3 mL at 1 versus 12 degrees). The respiration rate at gestational weeks 6 – 35 and one week after birth was increased by 45.5 / min (95% CI 10.1 – 81.0).
- In male newborns and after short-term heat/cold exposures, the researchers found no consistent associations.
Clinical significance
From 2.In the trimester and beyond birth, there is a negative association between temperature extremes in the living environment and lung function in female fetuses or infants. According to the authors, this underlines the vulnerability of pregnant women and their future children to climate change.
Financing: Fondation de France u.v.a.
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Source — https://www.univadis.de/viewarticle/perinatale-temperaturextreme-beeintr%25C3%25A4chtigen-die-2023a100069r