Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study

Background: The effects of ambient air pollutants on adverse pregnancy outcomes have been reported. However, studies about air pollutants exposure and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing IVF were limited and inconclusive. To date Shanghai has been the only city in China to implement a compulso...

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Main Authors: Wenming Shi, Chunyan Sun, Qiaoyu Chen, Mingming Ye, Jianing Niu, Zhenzhen Meng, Orhan Bukulmez, Miaoxin Chen, Xiaoming Teng
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021-03-01
Series:Environment International
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021000015
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author Wenming Shi
Chunyan Sun
Qiaoyu Chen
Mingming Ye
Jianing Niu
Zhenzhen Meng
Orhan Bukulmez
Miaoxin Chen
Xiaoming Teng
author_facet Wenming Shi
Chunyan Sun
Qiaoyu Chen
Mingming Ye
Jianing Niu
Zhenzhen Meng
Orhan Bukulmez
Miaoxin Chen
Xiaoming Teng
author_sort Wenming Shi
collection DOAJ
description Background: The effects of ambient air pollutants on adverse pregnancy outcomes have been reported. However, studies about air pollutants exposure and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing IVF were limited and inconclusive. To date Shanghai has been the only city in China to implement a compulsory single embryo transfer policy for all patients undergoing their first embryo transfer procedure effective from January 2019. We aimed to investigate the associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and biochemical pregnancy and live births, and to identify potential vulnerability characteristics of patients undergoing IVF in Shanghai, China. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 2766 infertile patients aged ≤ 45 years who underwent first fresh or frozen-thawed cleavage stage embryo transfer in the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital during April 2016 and December 2019. Daily average ambient levels of six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO and O3 max-8h) were obtained from fixed air monitors located in closest proximity to patients’ residences. The cumulative average level was calculated during three different exposure periods (period1: three months before oocyte retrieval to serum hCG test; period 2: from serum hCG test to live birth outcome; period 3: from three months before oocyte retrieval to live birth). Multiple logistic regression model was performed to investigate associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and pregnancy outcomes. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore the potential effects modifier. Results: The biochemical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were 54.2% and 36.4%, respectively. The ambient NO2 exposure was significantly associated with a 14% lower pregnancy rate during period 1 (aOR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.75–0.99). The ambient PM10 was related to significantly increased risk of lowering live birth rate among the patients during period 3 [aOR = 0.88(0.79–0.99)]. Stratified analysis showed that ambient PM10 was also significantly associated with a reduced pregnancy rate (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69–0.97) in patients who underwent single embryo transfer during period 1. Subjects who underwent single embryo transfer also had a decreased likelihood of a live birth when exposed to ambient SO2 and O3 during period 3 [aOR = 0.74(0.57–0.95), and 0.92 (0.83–0.98), respectively]. Moreover, O3 exposure was associated with decreased live birth rates in patients living in non-urban areas. Sensitivity analyses indicated robust negative association between PM10 exposure and live birth outcomes. Conclusions: Our study suggested that exposure to ambient air pollutants, in particular NO2 and PM10, was associated with an increased risk of lower rates of pregnancy and live birth respectively in patients undergoing IVF. Stratified analyses indicated that ambient SO2 and O3 levels were related to adverse pregnancy outcomes in some subgroups of IVF patients in this study. Notably, patients who underwent single embryo transfer were more susceptible to ambient air pollution exposure. Thus, prospective cohort studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and the susceptibility windows for women undergoing IVF treatment.
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spelling doaj.art-73a50a5197354b8385eeb04e36b1f1072022-12-21T22:25:52ZengElsevierEnvironment International0160-41202021-03-01148106377Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort studyWenming Shi0Chunyan Sun1Qiaoyu Chen2Mingming Ye3Jianing Niu4Zhenzhen Meng5Orhan Bukulmez6Miaoxin Chen7Xiaoming Teng8Clinical and Translational Research Center, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 201204 Shanghai, ChinaCentre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, ChinaCentre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, ChinaCentre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, ChinaCentre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, ChinaCentre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, ChinaDivision of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USACentre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, China; Corresponding authors at: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 2699 Gaoke West Road, Pudong District, Shanghai 201204, China.Centre for Assisted Reproduction, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, China; Corresponding authors at: Centre for Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, 2699 Gaoke West Road, Pudong District, Shanghai 201204, China.Background: The effects of ambient air pollutants on adverse pregnancy outcomes have been reported. However, studies about air pollutants exposure and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing IVF were limited and inconclusive. To date Shanghai has been the only city in China to implement a compulsory single embryo transfer policy for all patients undergoing their first embryo transfer procedure effective from January 2019. We aimed to investigate the associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and biochemical pregnancy and live births, and to identify potential vulnerability characteristics of patients undergoing IVF in Shanghai, China. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted on 2766 infertile patients aged ≤ 45 years who underwent first fresh or frozen-thawed cleavage stage embryo transfer in the Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital during April 2016 and December 2019. Daily average ambient levels of six air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, SO2, CO and O3 max-8h) were obtained from fixed air monitors located in closest proximity to patients’ residences. The cumulative average level was calculated during three different exposure periods (period1: three months before oocyte retrieval to serum hCG test; period 2: from serum hCG test to live birth outcome; period 3: from three months before oocyte retrieval to live birth). Multiple logistic regression model was performed to investigate associations between exposure to ambient air pollutants and pregnancy outcomes. Stratified analyses were conducted to explore the potential effects modifier. Results: The biochemical pregnancy rate and live birth rate were 54.2% and 36.4%, respectively. The ambient NO2 exposure was significantly associated with a 14% lower pregnancy rate during period 1 (aOR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.75–0.99). The ambient PM10 was related to significantly increased risk of lowering live birth rate among the patients during period 3 [aOR = 0.88(0.79–0.99)]. Stratified analysis showed that ambient PM10 was also significantly associated with a reduced pregnancy rate (aOR = 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69–0.97) in patients who underwent single embryo transfer during period 1. Subjects who underwent single embryo transfer also had a decreased likelihood of a live birth when exposed to ambient SO2 and O3 during period 3 [aOR = 0.74(0.57–0.95), and 0.92 (0.83–0.98), respectively]. Moreover, O3 exposure was associated with decreased live birth rates in patients living in non-urban areas. Sensitivity analyses indicated robust negative association between PM10 exposure and live birth outcomes. Conclusions: Our study suggested that exposure to ambient air pollutants, in particular NO2 and PM10, was associated with an increased risk of lower rates of pregnancy and live birth respectively in patients undergoing IVF. Stratified analyses indicated that ambient SO2 and O3 levels were related to adverse pregnancy outcomes in some subgroups of IVF patients in this study. Notably, patients who underwent single embryo transfer were more susceptible to ambient air pollution exposure. Thus, prospective cohort studies are needed to investigate the underlying mechanisms and the susceptibility windows for women undergoing IVF treatment.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021000015Air pollutionIn vitro fertilizationLive birthBiochemical pregnancy
spellingShingle Wenming Shi
Chunyan Sun
Qiaoyu Chen
Mingming Ye
Jianing Niu
Zhenzhen Meng
Orhan Bukulmez
Miaoxin Chen
Xiaoming Teng
Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study
Environment International
Air pollution
In vitro fertilization
Live birth
Biochemical pregnancy
title Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study
title_full Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study
title_fullStr Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study
title_full_unstemmed Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study
title_short Association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in Shanghai, China: A retrospective cohort study
title_sort association between ambient air pollution and pregnancy outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization in shanghai china a retrospective cohort study
topic Air pollution
In vitro fertilization
Live birth
Biochemical pregnancy
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412021000015
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