Prenatal and postnatal exposure to heat and cold may affect lung function changes in female newborns: JAMA

There needs to be more research on long-term associations of early-life exposure to extreme temperatures with child health and lung function, as the data available in this context still needs to be explored.

• The population-based cohort study (SEPAGES) recruited 343 pregnant women.
• The collected data included information related to temperature, lung function, and covariates.
• The maternal age at conception was 32 years.
• Two hundred forty-six mothers and fathers had master's degrees.
• Among the 160 female newborns constituting 47%, long-term heat exposure decreased functional residual capacity at gestational weeks 20-35 and weeks 0-4 after delivery. There was an increase in the respiratory rate at gestational weeks 14-35 and weeks 0-1 after delivery.
• The long-term cold exposure lowered functional residual capacity and tidal volume at gestational weeks 14-35 and weeks 0-4 after delivery. There was an increased respiratory rate at gestational weeks 6-35 and weeks 0-1 after delivery in female newborns.
• The researchers reported no association between male newborns or short-term exposure to cold or heat.

The present study has underlined the vulnerability of pregnant women and their newborn to climate change.

We reported the association of long-term heat and cold exposure (second trimester until four weeks after birth) with newborn lung volumes, especially among the female newborn, they said.

More research is needed to understand better the impact of unusual temperatures in early life. Raising awareness of health risks imposed by heat and cold exposure during pregnancy is important. There needs to be awareness among pregnant women, mothers, and healthcare professionals.

Further reading:

Guilbert A, Hough I, Seyve E, et al. Association of Prenatal and Postnatal Exposures to Warm or Cold Air Temperatures With Lung Function in Young Infants. JAMA Netw Open. 2023;6(3):e233376.doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.3376