School of Nursing and Health Studies, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL 33146, USA.
Department of Environmental Science and Policy, Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33149, USA.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2024 Aug 22;21(8):1111. doi: 10.3390/ijerph21081111.
Ambient heat stress poses a significant threat to public health, with rising temperatures exacerbating the risks associated with pregnancy. This systematic review examined the associations between heat stress exposure and placental function, synthesizing methodologies from the existing literature to inform future research approaches. Analyzing 24 articles, it explores various study designs, temperature exposure parameters, pregnancy windows, and placental outcome variables. Findings across human and animal studies reveal diverse effects on placental weight, efficiency, blood flow, anatomy, gene expression, and steroid levels under heat stress conditions. While animal studies primarily utilize randomized controlled trials, human research relies on observational methodologies due to ethical constraints. Both demonstrate alterations in placental morphology and function, underscoring the importance of understanding these changes for maternal and fetal health. The review underscores the urgent need for further research, particularly in human populations, to elucidate mechanisms and develop interventions mitigating heat stress's adverse effects on placental health. Ultimately, this synthesis contributes to understanding the complex interplay between environmental factors and pregnancy outcomes, informing strategies for maternal and fetal well-being amidst climate change challenges.
热环境应激对公共健康构成重大威胁，气温升高使与妊娠相关的风险加剧。本系统综述考察了热应激暴露与胎盘功能之间的关联，综合了现有文献中的方法学，为未来的研究方法提供信息。分析了 24 篇文章，探讨了各种研究设计、温度暴露参数、妊娠窗口和胎盘结局变量。人类和动物研究的结果揭示了在热应激条件下对胎盘重量、效率、血流、解剖、基因表达和类固醇水平的不同影响。虽然动物研究主要采用随机对照试验，但由于伦理限制，人类研究依赖于观察性方法学。两者都表明胎盘形态和功能发生了改变，这强调了了解这些变化对母婴健康的重要性。该综述强调了进一步研究的迫切需要，特别是在人类群体中，以阐明机制并制定干预措施，减轻热应激对胎盘健康的不利影响。总之，本综述有助于理解环境因素与妊娠结局之间的复杂相互作用，为应对气候变化挑战中的母婴健康提供策略。
