Rates of preterm birth following antenatal maternal exposure to severe life events: a population-based cohort study
Open accessAbstract
BACKGROUND: Preterm birth and other pregnancy complications have been linked to maternal stress during pregnancy. We investigated the association between maternal exposure to severe life events and risk of preterm birth. METHODS: Mothers of all singleton live births (n = 1.35 million births) in Denmark between 1 January 1979 and 31 December 2002 were linked to data on their children, parents, siblings and partners. We defined exposure as death or serious illness in close relatives in the first or second trimesters or in the 6 months before conception. Log-linear binomial regression was used to estimate the effect of exposure on preterm birth, very preterm birth and extremely preterm birth. RESULTS: There were 58 626 (4.34%) preterm births (<37 weeks), 11 732 (0.87%) very preterm births and 3288 (0.24%) extremely preterm births in the study cohort. Severe life events in close relatives in the 6 months before conception increased the risk of preterm birth by 16% (relative risk, RR = 1.16, [95% CI: 1.08-1.23]). Severe life events in older children in the 6 months before conception increased the risk of preterm birth by 23% (RR = 1.23, [95% CI: 1.02-1.49]) and the risk of very preterm birth by 59% (RR = 1.59, [95% CI: 1.08-2.35]). CONCLUSIONS: Our population-based cohort study suggests that maternal exposure to severe life events, particularly in the 6 months before pregnancy, may increase the risk of preterm and very preterm birth.
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A population-based study in Denmark described an association between a stressful life event within six months prior to conception and increased risk for preterm delivery.
“A population-based study in Denmark also described an association between a stressful life event occurring within the six months prior to conception and an increased risk for preterm delivery [74].”
From Stress and the HPA Axis: Balancing Homeostasis and Fertility. (2017) · cites this paper as [74]
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“A population-based study in Denmark also described an association between a stressful life event occurring within the six months prior to conception and an increased risk for preterm delivery [74].”
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- Authors
- Khashan, A. S., McNamee, R., Abel, K. M., Mortensen, P. B., Kenny, L. C., Pedersen, M. G., Webb, R. T., & Baker, P. N.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Aarhus University (DK)
- Cork University Hospital (IE)
- Corresponding author
- Khashan, A.S.
- Venue
- Human Reproduction
- Publisher
- Oxford University Press (OUP)
- Published
- 2009-02-01
- Volume
- 24
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 429-437
- ISSN
- 0268-1161 (ISSN-L)
- 1460-2350
- OpenAlex
- W2134265199
- Cited by
- 119
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 5 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 9 · 2016: 7 · 2015: 13 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 9
- FWCI
- 6.62
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Human Reproduction (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
- ResearchSpace (University of Auckland) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Stanley Medical Research Institute
- Tommy's
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Maternal Mental Health During Pregnancy and Postpartum
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Epidemiology › Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Infant Development and Preterm Care
- Keywords
- preterm birth, very preterm birth, extremely preterm birth, maternal stress, prenatal exposure, older children, pregnancy complications, preconception period
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Family, Female, Humans, Life Change Events, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Time Factors, Cohort Studies, Premature Birth
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