A population-based case-control study of the association between weather-related extreme heat events and orofacial clefts

Aida Soim; Scott C Sheridan; Syni-An Hwang; Wan-Hsiang Hsu; Sarah C Fisher; Gary M Shaw; Marcia L Feldkamp; Paul A Romitti; Jennita Reefhuis; Peter H Langlois; Marilyn L Browne; Shao Lin; National Birth Defects Prevention Study

doi:10.1002/bdr2.1385

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A population-based case-control study of the association between weather-related extreme heat events and orofacial clefts

Journal article

Peer reviewed

A population-based case-control study of the association between weather-related extreme heat events and orofacial clefts

Aida Soim, Scott C Sheridan, Syni-An Hwang, Wan-Hsiang Hsu, Sarah C Fisher, Gary M Shaw, Marcia L Feldkamp, Paul A Romitti, Jennita Reefhuis, Peter H Langlois, …

Birth defects research, Vol.110(19), pp.1468-1477

11/15/2018

DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1385

PMCID: PMC7551893

PMID: 30338937

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Abstract

Limited epidemiologic research exists on the association between weather-related extreme heat events (EHEs) and orofacial clefts (OFCs). We estimated the associations between maternal exposure to EHEs in the summer season and OFCs in offspring and investigated the potential modifying effect of body mass index on these associations. We conducted a population-based case-control study among mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study for whom at least 1 day of their first two post-conception months occurred during summer. Cases were live-born infants, stillbirths, and induced terminations with OFCs; controls were live-born infants without major birth defects. We defined EHEs using the 95th and the 90th percentiles of the daily maximum universal apparent temperature distribution. We used unconditional logistic regression with Firth's penalized likelihood method to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, controlling for maternal sociodemographic and anthropometric variables. We observed no association between maternal exposure to EHEs and OFCs overall, although prolonged duration of EHEs may increase the risk of OFCs in some study sites located in the Southeast climate region. Analyses by subtypes of OFCs revealed no associations with EHEs. Modifying effect by BMI was not observed. We did not find a significantly increased risk of OFCs associated with maternal exposure to EHEs during the relevant window of embryogenesis. Future studies should account for maternal indoor and outdoor activities and for characteristics such as hydration and use of air conditioning that could modify the effect of EHEs on pregnant women.

Temperature

Humans

Risk Factors

Self Report

Logistic Models

Male

Brain - abnormalities

Extreme Heat - adverse effects

Mothers

Pregnancy Trimester, First

Case-Control Studies

Pregnancy

Weather

Cleft Palate - etiology

Maternal Exposure - adverse effects

Adult

Female

Seasons

Odds Ratio

Infant, Newborn

Population Surveillance - methods

Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects - chemically induced

Cleft Lip - etiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: A population-based case-control study of the association between weather-related extreme heat events and orofacial clefts
Creators: Aida Soim - Department of Environmental Health Science, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York
Scott C Sheridan - Department of Geography, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio
Syni-An Hwang - Department of Environmental Health Science, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York
Wan-Hsiang Hsu - Congenital Malformations Registry, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Sarah C Fisher - Congenital Malformations Registry, New York State Department of Health, Albany, New York
Gary M Shaw - Department of Pediatrics, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, California
Marcia L Feldkamp - University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
Paul A Romitti - Department of Pediatrics, College of Public Health, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Jennita Reefhuis - Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Peter H Langlois - Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas
Marilyn L Browne - Department of Environmental Health Science, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York
Shao Lin - Department of Environmental Health Science, University at Albany School of Public Health, Rensselaer, New York
National Birth Defects Prevention Study
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Birth defects research, Vol.110(19), pp.1468-1477
DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1385
PMID: 30338937
PMCID: PMC7551893
NLM abbreviation: Birth Defects Res
ISSN: 2472-1727
eISSN: 2472-1727
Publisher: Wiley; United States
Grant note: U01DD001032 / CDC HHS 5R21ES021359-02 / NIH HHS U01 DD001035 / NCBDD CDC HHS U01 DD001223 / NCBDD CDC HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/15/2018
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Biostatistics
Record Identifier: 9983995003102771

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