Get started
Work

Association of acute ambient temperatures with NICU admissions: results of a case-crossover analysis

Year: 2022
Type: conference-abstract
Abstract: Background: In the face of a changing climate, understanding the impacts of increasing temperatures on population health is critical, particularly for vulnerable groups such as pregnant people and neonates. Air pollution has been shown to increase risk for neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission, but the effect of temperature has not been studied. Methods: Using data from the Consortium on Safe Labor (n=27,189 infants admitted to NICU), we conducted a case-crossover analysis to assess NICU admission risk in association with ambient temperature during the week prior to delivery. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals estimated NICU risk associated with a 1°C increase and 1°C decrease in temperatures in the warm and cold seasons, respectively with adjustment for time-varying air pollution and humidity. Analyses were repeated among infants born during weeks with average temperatures greater than 27°C. Results: Increased temperatures in the warm season were associated with higher risk of NICU admissions on the day of delivery, the day before delivery, and the entire week while days 2-7 prior to delivery were associated with reduced risk. During the cold seasons, decreases in temperature increased risk on the day of delivery but reduced risk at other times. NICU admission risk was highest in weeks with an average temperature exceeding 27°C with 12-38% increases observed in the week preceding delivery. Conclusions: Ambient temperature, particularly increasing heat during the warm season in the week prior to delivery, was associated with NICU admission and the effects appear independent of air pollution exposures. Keywords: NICU admissions, temperature, case-crossover, neonatal health
DOI: 10.1289/isee.2022.p-0553
Language: English
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4320065951
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: 10