Exposure misclassification due to residential mobility during pregnancy
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Hodgson, S
Lurz, PWW
Shirley, MDF
Bythell, M
Rankin, J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Objectives
Pregnant women are a highly mobile group, yet studies suggest exposure error due to migration in pregnancy is minimal. We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal residential mobility on exposure to environmental variables (urban fabric, roads and air pollution (PM10 and NO2)) and socio-economic factors (deprivation) that varied spatially and temporally.
Methods
We used data on residential histories for deliveries at ≥24 weeks gestation recorded by the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey, 2000–2008 (n = 5399) to compare: (a) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus maternal postcode at conception, and (b) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus mean exposure based on residences throughout pregnancy.
Results
In this population, 24.4% of women moved during pregnancy. Depending on the exposure variable assessed, 1–12% of women overall were assigned an exposure at delivery >1SD different to that at conception, and 2–25% assigned an exposure at delivery >1SD different to the mean exposure throughout pregnancy.
Conclusions
To meaningfully explore the subtle associations between environmental exposures and health, consideration must be given to error introduced by residential mobility.
Pregnant women are a highly mobile group, yet studies suggest exposure error due to migration in pregnancy is minimal. We aimed to investigate the impact of maternal residential mobility on exposure to environmental variables (urban fabric, roads and air pollution (PM10 and NO2)) and socio-economic factors (deprivation) that varied spatially and temporally.
Methods
We used data on residential histories for deliveries at ≥24 weeks gestation recorded by the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey, 2000–2008 (n = 5399) to compare: (a) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus maternal postcode at conception, and (b) exposure at conception assigned to maternal postcode at delivery versus mean exposure based on residences throughout pregnancy.
Results
In this population, 24.4% of women moved during pregnancy. Depending on the exposure variable assessed, 1–12% of women overall were assigned an exposure at delivery >1SD different to that at conception, and 2–25% assigned an exposure at delivery >1SD different to the mean exposure throughout pregnancy.
Conclusions
To meaningfully explore the subtle associations between environmental exposures and health, consideration must be given to error introduced by residential mobility.
Date Issued
2015-03-25
Date Acceptance
2015-03-18
Citation
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 2015, 218 (4), pp.414-421
ISSN
1618-131X
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
414
End Page
421
Journal / Book Title
International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health
Volume
218
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier GmbH. This is an open access article under the CC BY
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Subjects
Science & Technology
Life Sciences & Biomedicine
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Infectious Diseases
Environmental exposure
Maternal exposure
Residential mobility
Exposure assessment
Exposure error
AMBIENT AIR-POLLUTION
LOW-BIRTH-WEIGHT
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURES
PRETERM BIRTH
DEFECTS
DEPRIVATION
OUTCOMES
ENGLAND
Publication Status
Published