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BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

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Open Access 01-12-2021 | Research article

Maternal exposure to life events during pregnancy and congenital heart disease in offspring: a case-control study in a Chinese population

Authors: Jing Li, Yujiao Du, Yini Liu, Jiaoyang Du, Ruo Zhang, Pengfei Qu, Hong Yan, Duolao Wang, Shaonong Dang

Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth | Issue 1/2021

Abstract

Background

Previous studies have suggested that maternal stress could increase the risk of some adverse pregnancy outcomes, but evidence on congenital heart disease (CHD) is limited. We aimed to explore the association between maternal exposure to life events during pregnancy and CHD in offspring.

Methods

The data was based on an unmatched case-control study about CHD conducted in Shaanxi province of China from 2014 to 2016. We included 2280 subjects, 699 in the case group and 1581 in the control group. The cases were infants or fetuses diagnosed with CHD, and the controls were infants without any birth defects. The life events were assessed by the Life Events Scale for Pregnant Women, and were divided into positive and negative events for synchronous analysis. A directed acyclic graph was drawn to screen the confounders. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for the effects of life events on CHD.

Results

After controlling for the potential confounders, the pregnant women experiencing the positive events during pregnancy had lower risk of CHD in offspring than those without positive events (OR = 0.38, 95%CI: 0.30 ~ 0.48). The risk of CHD in offspring could increase by 62% among the pregnant women experiencing the negative events compared to those without (OR = 1.62, 95%CI: 1.29 ~ 2.03). Both effects showed a certain dose-response association. Besides, the positive events could weaken the risk impact of negative events on CHD.

Conclusion

It may suggest that maternal exposure to negative life events could increase the risk of CHD in offspring, while experiencing positive events could play a potential protective role.

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Title: Maternal exposure to life events during pregnancy and congenital heart disease in offspring: a case-control study in a Chinese population
Authors: Jing Li
Yujiao Du
Yini Liu
Jiaoyang Du
Ruo Zhang
Pengfei Qu
Hong Yan
Duolao Wang
Shaonong Dang
Publication date: 01-12-2021
Publisher: BioMed Central
Published in: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth / Issue 1/2021
Electronic ISSN: 1471-2393
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884-021-04154-0

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Maternal exposure to life events during pregnancy and congenital heart disease in offspring: a case-control study in a Chinese population

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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