Work

Trimester-specific association of maternal prenatal physical activities with risk of preterm birth: a prospective pre-birth cohort study

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: This study aimed to examine the trimester-specific association of maternal prenatal physical activities (PA) with risk of preterm birth (PTB). We recruited 2080 women during the first trimester and conducted follow-ups during the second and third trimesters and at birth. We assessed maternal PA during each trimester and calculated a cumulative PA score range from 0 to 3, with a higher score reflecting higher frequency and a sustained high level of PA over pregnancy. Lower risks of PTB were observed among women who had higher PA levels during the first [tertile 3 (T3) vs. tertile 1 (T1): odds ratio (OR) = 0.48; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32–0.71, P for trend = 0.003], second (T3 vs. T1: OR = 0.34; 95% CI: 0.22–0.52, P for trend < 0.001), and third trimesters (T3 vs. T1: OR = 0.28; 95% CI: 0.18–0.45, P for trend = 0.008), respectively. A higher prenatal cumulative PA score significantly correlated with a lower risk of PTB (3 vs. 0: OR = 0.24; 95% CI: 0.11–0.54, P for trend < 0.001) and iatrogenic preterm birth (3 vs. 0: OR = 0.23; 95% CI: 0.09–0.59, P for trend < 0.001) in a dose–response-dependent manner, but not with spontaneous preterm birth. These findings support the necessity of guiding the maternal PA from early pregnancy and highlight the importance of sustained PA to prevent PTB.

Source: BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth

DOI: 10.1186/s12884-025-08518-8

Authors: Jiajin Hu, Yanan Ma, Wenhan Jia, Ningyu Wan, Xiaochuan Wang, Lu Zheng, Zhe Yang, Dongming Zheng, Jun Wei, Deliang Wen

Institutions: Sheng Jing Hospital, China Medical University

Language: English

Topic: Preterm Birth and Chorioamnionitis

Subfield: Epidemiology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,290