Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Original Article
  • Published:

The influence of meteorological factors on the emergence of preterm delivery and preterm premature rupture of membrane

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate the influence of changes in the atmospheric state on the incidence of preterm delivery (PTD) and preterm premature rupture of membrane (PPROM).

Study Design:

The hospital records of PTD and/or PPROM over the year 1999 were reviewed. The current meteorological state was described by a set of parameters and their diurnal and seasonal variations. Multivariate analysis, time series approach and Poisson regression were used.

Result:

PTD occurrence was correlated with humidity and maximum temperature (P<0.01), its rise preceded their sharp variations by 3 days (P<0.01). PPROM was influenced by the variations in the weather state: desert heat wave arrival (P=0.093), strong winds, overall daily differences of humidity and temperature (all with P<0.05).

Conclusion:

The rates of PTD and PPROM are affected by an ensemble of meteorological variables, specific for each disorder. Obstetricians should be aware of the influence of unstable weather on PTD and PPROM rates, especially in the spring and autumn.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1
Figure 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Capra F (ed). A new synthesis. The Web of Life. Anchor Books Doubleday: NY, 1996, pp 157–172.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Driscoll DM, Stillman DN . Weather and emotional state: a search for associations between weather and calls to telephone counseling services. Int J Biometeorol 2002; 47: 21–34.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Persinger MA . Mental processes and disorders: a neurobehavioral perspective in human biometeorology. Experientia 1987; 43: 39–48.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Sulman F-G . Short- and -Long Term Changes in Climate, vol. 1. CRC Press Inc.: Boca Raton, FL, 1982, pp 7–10.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Verhoef MJ, Rose MS, Ramcharan S . The relationship between chinook conditions and women's physical and mental well-being. Int J Biomet 1995; 38: 148–151.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Bider D, Sivan E, Seidman DS . Meteorological factors in hypertensive disorders, vaginal bleeding and premature rapture of membranes during pregnancy. Gynecol Obstet Invest 1991; 32: 88–90.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Driscoll DM . Weather and childbirth: a further search for relationships. Int J Biomet 1995; 38: 152–155.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Mettock JN, Lyons MC (eds). Hippocrates: of Airs, Waters and Places. Heffre and Sons: Cambridge, 1969.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Lajinian S, Hudson S, Appelwhite L . An association between the heat-humidity index and preterm labor and delivery: a preliminary analysis. Am J Public Health 1997; 87: 1205–1207.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Aikman H . The association between arthritis and weather. Int J Biomet 1997; 40: 192–200.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Höppe P . Aspects of human biometeorology in past, present and future. Int J Biomet 1997; 40: 19–23.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Maciocia G (ed). The causes of disease. And: Identifications of patterns according to pathogenic factors. The Foundation of Chinese Medicine: a Comprehensive Text for Acupuncturists and Herbalists. Churchill Livingston: London, NY, Tokyo, 1995, pp 132–135, 293–298.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Noller KL, Resseguic LI, Voss V . The effect of changes in atmospheric pressure on the occurrence of the spontaneous onset of labor in term pregnancies. Am J Obst Gynecol 1996; 174: 1192–1197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Polansky GH, Varner MW, O'Gorman T . Premature rupture of membranes and barometric pressure changes. J Reprod Med 1985; 30: 189–191.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Tromp SW (ed). Physiological effects. Biometeorology. The Impact of the Weather and Climate on Humans and their Environment (Animals and Plants). Heyden & Sons, Ltd: London, Philadelphia, Rheine, 1980, pp 112–131.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Yackerson NS, Piura B, Friger M . The influence of weather state on the incidence of pre-eclampsia and placenta abruption in semi-arid areas. Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 2007; XXXIV: 27–30.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Sulman F-G . The impact of weather on human health. Rev Environ Health 1984; 4 (2): 83–119.

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Moja PL, Cusi C, Sterzi RR, Canepari C . Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for preventing migraine and tension-type headaches. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2005; 20 (3): CD002919.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Smith R, Nicholson RC . Corticotrophin releasing hormone and the timing of birth. Front Biosci 2007; 12: 912–918 (review).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Sandman CA, Glynn L, Schetter CD, Wadhwa P, Garite T, Chicz-DeMet A et al. Elevated maternal cortisol early in pregnancy predicts third trimester levels of placental corticotropin releasing hormone (CRH): priming the placental clock. Peptides 2006; 27 (6): 1457–1463.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Dessai S . Heat stress and mortality in Lisbon. Part 1, model construction and validation. Int J Biomet 2002; 47: 6–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Smoyer KE, Rainham DGC, Hewko JN . Heat-stress related mortality in five cities in Southern Ontario: 1980–1996. Int J Biomet 2000; 44: 190–197.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Whitman S, Good G, Donoghue ER, Benbow N, Show W, Mou S . Mortality in Chicago attributed to the July 1995 heat wave. Am J Public Health 1997; 87: 1515–1518.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Aristotle. On Man in the Universe. WJ Black Inc.: Roslyn, NY, 1943.

  25. Corbett SW . Asthma exacerbations during Santa Ana winds in Southern California. Wilderness Environ Med 1996; 7: 301–311.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Rose MS, Verhoef MJ, Ramcharan S . The relationship between chinook conditions & women's illness-related behaviors. Int J Biomet 1995; 38: 156–160.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Sheiner E, Levy A, Hershkovitz R, Hallak M, Hammel RD, Katz M et al. Determining factors associated with shoulder dystocia: a population-based study. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2006; 126 (1): 11–15.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Sheiner E, Levy A, Yerushalmi R, Katz M . Beta-thalassemia minor during pregnancy. Obstet Gynecol 2004; 103 (6): 1273–1277.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to N Yackerson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Yackerson, N., Piura, B. & Sheiner, E. The influence of meteorological factors on the emergence of preterm delivery and preterm premature rupture of membrane. J Perinatol 28, 707–711 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.69

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2008.69

Keywords

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links