Physical Activity and the Risk of Preeclampsia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Physical activity has been hypothesized to reduce the risk of preeclampsia, but epidemiologic studies have not shown consistent results. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis of epidemiologic studies. METHODS: PubMed, Embase, and Ovid databases were searched for case-control and cohort studies of physical activity and preeclampsia up to 2 November 2012. We estimated summary relative risks (RRs) using a random effects model. RESULTS: Fifteen studies were included. The summary RR for high versus low prepregnancy physical activity was 0.65 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.47-0.89, I = 0%; n = 5). In the dose-response analysis, the summary RR was 0.72 (0.53-0.99; I = 0%; n = 3) per 1 hour per day and 0.78 (0.63-0.96; I = 0%; n = 2) per 20 metabolic equivalent task (MET)-hours per week. The summary RR for high versus low physical activity in early pregnancy was 0.79 (0.70-0.91; I = 0%; n = 11). In the dose-response analysis, the summary RR per 1 hour per day was 0.83 (0.72-0.95; I = 21%; n = 7) and 0.85 (0.68-1.07; I = 69%; n = 3) per 20 MET-hours per week. A nonlinear association was observed for physical activity before pregnancy and risk of preeclampsia (test for nonlinearity, P = 0.03), but not for physical activity in early pregnancy (test for nonlinearity, P = 0.37), with a flattening of the curve at higher levels of activity. Both walking and greater intensity of physical activity were inversely associated with preeclampsia. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis suggests a reduced risk of preeclampsia with increasing levels of physical activity before pregnancy and during early pregnancy.
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Higher amounts of preconception physical activity are associated with a lower risk of GDM and pre-eclampsia.
“previous meta-analyses suggest that higher amounts of preconception physical activity are associated with a lower risk of GDM and pre-eclampsia [35, 36].”
From Associations between periconceptional lifestyle behaviours and adverse pregnancy outcomes (2021) · cites this paper as [36]
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Associations between periconceptional lifestyle behaviours and adverse pregnancy outcomes
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- Authors
- Aune, D., Saugstad, O. D., Henriksen, T., & Tonstad, S.
- Affiliations
- Oslo University Hospital (NO)
- Corresponding author
- Aune, Dagfinn
- Venue
- Epidemiology
- Published
- 2014-05
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 3
- Pages
- 331-343
- ISSN
- 1044-3983 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W1976377819
- Cited by
- 244
- References
- 6
- Citations by year
- 2026: 10 · 2025: 24 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 27 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 16 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 3
- FWCI
- 22.35
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Epidemiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Obstetrics and Gynecology › Pregnancy and preeclampsia studies
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Neurological Complications and Syndromes
- Keywords
- preeclampsia, physical activity, dose-response relationship, metabolic equivalent of task, walking, exercise intensity, nonlinear relationship, pregnancy complications
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Female, Gestational Age, Humans, Motor Activity, Pre-Eclampsia, Pregnancy, Pregnancy Outcome, Prenatal Care, Reference Values, Cohort Studies, Exercise, Incidence, Confidence Intervals, Case-Control Studies, Risk Assessment, Young Adult
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