High Temperatures, Heatwaves Linked To Poor Pregnancy Outcomes, Research Finds
Researchers said on Wednesday, women who are exposed to high temperatures and heatwaves while pregnant are more likely to deliver premature or stillborn babies.
Such results, as reported in the medical journal, BMJ, closely associated with poverty, especially in the tropics, will possibly rise with global warming, particularly during more often and stronger heatwaves.
Even slight increases, the study authors concluded, could have a major effect on public health as exposure to high temperatures is typical and intensifying.
According to the World Health Organization, this is the main cause of death among children whose age is below five years old. This report on mortality is focused on the developing world, particularly in Africa.
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According to research, women who are exposed to high temperatures and heatwaves while pregnant are more likely to deliver premature or stillborn babies.
Quantifying the Effect of Higher Heat on Pregnancy Results
To measure the effect of higher heat on pregnancy results, an international research team led by Matthew Chersich from Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute in Johannesburg, evaluated 70 peer-reviewed studies of more of 27 poor, middle-income and rich countries.
Reports on the new findings said, out of 47 studies that concerned premature births, 40 said they were more typical at higher temperatures.
In addition, as indicated in the study, the chances of premature birth increased, on the average, by five percent for every one-degree Celsius or 1C increase, and "16 percent during the heatwave days."
Global warming has seen the average rise in temperature of the earth, with bigger increases through landmasses.
According to IPCC, the climate science advisory panel of the United Nations, the number of extremely hot days are anticipated to rise most in the tropics.
Extreme Heatwaves, More Dangerous
The new finding also specified that extreme heatwaves which are "made more dangerous by high humidity" are anticipated to arise earliest in these regions, too.
In a 2018 report, the IPCC said limiting global warming from 2C to 1.5C, goals aligned with the Paris Agreement, "Would mean roughly 420 million fewer people" often exposed to extreme heatwaves.
In addition, the new study found too, that there was a rise by five percent for every 1C increase in temperature in stillbirths, with the association most noticeable during the last couple of weeks of pregnancy.
The effect of both heatwaves and warmer days on low birth weight, which is linked to several health conditions later in an individual's life, was smaller although still substantial, the study investigators said.
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Adverse Outcomes in Pregnancy
As anticipated, adverse outcomes in pregnancy that's linked to the increasing temperature were found to be strongest among women.
This was mainly because other factors like pollution might be playing a vital role in premature babies and stillbirths, and study authors admitted that the role of warmer temperatures is quite a challenge to pin down.
Nevertheless, the researchers concluded, their study findings are strong enough to propose that pregnant women "merit a place along with the groups" usually regarded as at great risk for conditions that are related to heat. Researchers said, more studies, as well as targeted policies, need to be a high priority.
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Nov 05, 2020 12:00 PM EST
