Exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy has been linked to a higher risk of severe maternal health problems, according to a recent study.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found a significant association between long-term heat exposure in the third trimester and severe maternal morbidity (SMM). SMM refers to severe and unexpected conditions during labor and delivery. The study revealed a 27% increase in the risk of SMM in these circumstances.
The study suggests that late pregnancy might be a more sensitive period for heat-related risks. It also found that short-term exposure to heatwaves, including moderate, high, and extreme heat, was still “significantly associated” with SMM.
The study noted that the rate of SMM in 2014 was already three times higher than 20 years prior.
According to the study, pregnant individuals with lower educational attainment and those whose pregnancy started between November and April, during the cold season, faced greater risks. Age also played a role, with an increased risk observed among pregnant people under 25 or over 35.
The study emphasized that adolescent mothers may face unfavorable social and physical conditions, limiting their ability to protect themselves from extreme heat. Additionally, older mothers may have more pregnancy complications and risk factors due to physiological changes from aging, which can exacerbate the effects of heat.
A total of 403,602 pregnancies from 2008 to 2018 in Southern California were included in the study. Researchers conducted a retrospective population-based epidemiological cohort study, using preexisting data to examine the relationship between heat exposure and maternal health outcomes.
The study also highlighted that about one-third of SMM indicators are associated with cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, or hypertensive conditions. Cardiovascular subconditions of SMM may play a critical role in the association between heat exposure and SMM. Scientific studies in recent years have reported that cardiovascular conditions have become a leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths.
Hot weather in general puts a strain on the human heart, as the body works harder to maintain normal core temperatures, according to the British Heart Foundation.
One heat mitigation strategy highlighted by the study is the presence of green spaces. The study suggests that besides providing shade from trees, residential green spaces can also contribute to better health conditions through increased social support and physical activity.
The study’s findings come in the context of record-breaking global temperatures. According to the European Union-funded Copernicus Climate Change Service (CCCS), Earth experienced its hottest three-month period on record this year. August 2023 was the hottest August on record and the second hottest month ever.
The escalating temperatures have raised concerns among climate experts, with worsening heatwaves reinforcing the urgency to address the warming climate. Carlo Buontempo, the director of CCCS, emphasizes that the persistence of record-breaking conditions and their impacts on both people and the planet are clear consequences of climate change.
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