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Antenatal Exposure to UV-B Radiation and Preeclampsia: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Hastie, Claire E 
Mackay, Daniel F 
Clemens, Tom L 
Cherrie, Mark PC 
Megaw, Lauren J 

Abstract

Background Risk of preeclampsia varies by month of delivery. We tested whether this seasonal patterning may be mediated through maternal vitamin D concentration using antenatal exposure to UV-B radiation as an instrumental variable. Methods and Results Scottish maternity records were linked to antenatal UV-B exposure derived from satellites between 2000 and 2010. Logistic regression analyses were used to explore the association between UV-B and preeclampsia, adjusting for the potential confounding effects of month of conception, child's sex, gestation, parity, and mean monthly temperature. Of the 522 896 eligible singleton deliveries, 8689 (1.66%) mothers developed preeclampsia. Total antenatal UV-B exposure ranged from 43.18 to 101.11 kJ/m2 and was associated with reduced risk of preeclampsia with evidence of a dose-response relationship (highest quintile of exposure: adjusted odds ratio, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.44-0.72; P<0.001). Associations were demonstrated for UV-B exposure in all 3 trimesters. Conclusions The seasonal patterning of preeclampsia may be mediated through low maternal vitamin D concentration in winter resulting from low UV-B radiation. Interventional studies are required to determine whether vitamin D supplements or UV-B-emitting light boxes can reduce the seasonal patterning of preeclampsia.

Description

Keywords

UV light, environmental exposures, preeclampsia, seasonal variations, Female, Humans, Incidence, Male, Maternal Exposure, Pre-Eclampsia, Pregnancy, Protective Factors, Radiation Exposure, Retrospective Studies, Risk Assessment, Risk Factors, Scotland, Seasons, Time Factors, Ultraviolet Rays

Journal Title

J Am Heart Assoc

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

2047-9980
2047-9980

Volume Title

10

Publisher

Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)

Rights

All rights reserved
Sponsorship
This work was supported by Health Data Research UK [Edin-1 to CEH]. Provision of the UV data was funded by a joint Natural Environment Research Council, Medical Research Council and Chief Scientist Office project grant [ NE/P010911/1]; Tommy’s charity; and Health Data Research UK funding [Edin-1]. SJS is funded by Wellcome Trust Clinical Career Development Fellowship [ 209560/Z/17/Z].