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Review
. 2013 Apr;70(4):213-22.
doi: 10.1136/oemed-2012-101032. Epub 2013 Jan 23.

Work activities and risk of prematurity, low birth weight and pre-eclampsia: an updated review with meta-analysis

Keith T Palmer  1 , Matteo Bonzini, E Clare Harris, Cathy Linaker, Jens Peter Bonde
Affiliations
Review

Work activities and risk of prematurity, low birth weight and pre-eclampsia: an updated review with meta-analysis

Keith T Palmer et al. Occup Environ Med. 2013 Apr.

Abstract

Objectives: We assessed the evidence relating preterm delivery (PTD), low birth weight, small for gestational age (SGA), pre-eclampsia and gestational hypertension to five occupational exposures (working hours, shift work, lifting, standing and physical workload). We conducted a systematic search in Medline and Embase (1966 to 2011), updating a previous search with a further 6 years of observations.

Methods: As before, combinations of keywords and medical subject headings were used. Each relevant paper was assessed for completeness of reporting and potential for important bias or confounding, and its effect estimates abstracted. Where similar definitions of exposure and outcome existed we calculated pooled estimates of relative risk (RR) in meta-analysis.

Results: Analysis was based on 86 reports (32 cohort investigations, 57 with usable data on PTD, 54 on birth weight and 11 on pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertension); 33 reports were new to this review. For PTD, findings across a substantial evidence base were generally consistent, effectively ruling out large effects (eg, RR>1.2). Larger and higher quality studies were less positive, while meta-estimates of risk were smaller than in previous analyses and best estimates pointed to modest or null effects (RR 1.04 to 1.18). For SGA, the position was similar but meta-estimates were even closer to the null (eight of nine RRs ≤ 1.07). For pre-eclampsia/gestational hypertension the evidence base remains insufficient.

Conclusions: The balance of evidence is against large effects for the associations investigated. As the evidence base has grown, estimates of risk in relation to these outcomes have become smaller.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Risk of preterm delivery associated with working >40 hours per week during pregnancy (Forest plot ordered by study size)
Figure 2
Figure 2
Risk of preterm delivery associated with working shifts during pregnancy (Forest plot ordered by study size)
Figure 3
Figure 3
Risk of preterm delivery associated with standing at work for >4 hours per day during pregnancy (Forest plot ordered by study size)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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