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Meta-Analysis
. 2023 Sep 6:11:1075946.
doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1075946. eCollection 2023.

Association between maternal rheumatoid arthritis and small for gestational age neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lv Tian  1   2 , Zhiyuan Zhang  2 , Yuting Mao  3 , Minru Zong  1   2
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Association between maternal rheumatoid arthritis and small for gestational age neonates: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Lv Tian et al. Front Public Health. .

Abstract

Background: According to reports, maternal rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been suggested as a possible adverse factor for developing small for gestational age (SGA) in offspring. However, some studies have also indicated a need for a more statistically significant association between the two. Understanding the relationship between maternal RA and the risk of SGA is crucial for identifying potential adverse outcomes and implementing appropriate interventions. Therefore, this study aims to elucidate the association between maternal RA and the risk of offspring developing SGA.

Methods: This study was registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) (ID: CRD42022357590). A systematic literature search was conducted to identify eligible studies up to August 2022. Quality assessment was performed according to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The Q test and I2 test tested and estimated heterogeneity among studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% CI were calculated using random or fixed effects models depending on the heterogeneity. Subgroup analyses, sensitivity analyses, and publication bias assessments were also performed.

Results: Seven studies, including 12,323,918 participants, were included in the analysis. The results showed a statistically significant association between maternal RA and SGA (OR = 1.70, 95% CI = 1.29-2.23, p < 0.001). Sensitivity analysis showed stable results. The funnel plot of the symmetric distribution and the results of Begg's and Egger's tests showed no publication bias.

Conclusion: Maternal RA is associated with an increased risk of SGA in offspring. However, more studies are still needed to explore the potential mechanisms underlying maternal RA and SGA association.

Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier [CRD42022357590].

Keywords: maternal rheumatoid arthritis; meta-analysis; rheumatoid arthritis; small for gestational age; systematic review.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analysis (PRISMA) flow chart.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Forest plot of the association between maternal rheumatoid arthritis and small for gestational age neonates.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Sensitivity analyses.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Funnel plot (potential publication bias of included studies).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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