Independent and Combined Effects of Heatwaves and PM2.5 on Preterm Birth in Guangzhou, China: A Survival Analysis

Abstract

Background:

Both extreme heat and air pollution exposure during pregnancy have been associated with preterm birth; however, their combined effects are unclear.

Objectives:

Our goal was to estimate the independent and joint effects of heatwaves and fine particulate matter [PM $<2.5\mathrm{\mu }\mathrm{m}$ in aerodynamic diameter ( ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ )], exposure during the final gestational week on preterm birth.

Methods:

Using birth registry data from Guangzhou, China, we included 215,059 singleton live births in the warm season (1 May–31 October) between January 2015 and July 2017. Daily meteorological variables from 5 monitoring stations and ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ concentrations from 11 sites were used to estimate district-specific exposures. A series of cut off temperature thresholds and durations (2, 3, and 4 consecutive d) were used to define 15 different heatwaves. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate the effects of heatwaves and ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ exposures during the final week on preterm birth, and departures from additive joint effects were assessed using the relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI).

Results:

Numbers of preterm births increased in association with heatwave exposures during the final gestational week. Depending on the heatwave definition used, hazard ratios (HRs) ranged from 1.10 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.20) to 1.92 (1.39, 2.64). Associations were stronger for more intense heatwaves. Combined effects of ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ exposures and heatwaves appeared to be synergistic ( $\text{RERIs}>0$ ) for less extreme heatwaves (i.e., shorter or with relatively low temperature thresholds) but were less than additive ( $\text{RERIs}<0$ ) for more intense heatwaves.

Conclusions:

Our research strengthens the evidence that exposure to heatwaves during the final gestational week can independently trigger preterm birth. Moderate heatwaves may also act synergistically with ${\mathrm{PM}}_{2.5}$ exposure to increase risk of preterm birth, which adds new evidence to the current understanding of combined effects of air pollution and meteorological variables on adverse birth outcomes. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5117