Effect of maternal temperature variations on prematurity

• Grant number: 25/04456-6
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: June 01, 2025
• End date: May 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Maternal and Child Health
• Principal Investigator: Rodolfo de Carvalho Pacagnella
• Grantee: Geovanna Anseloni
• Host Institution: Centro de Atenção Integral à Saúde da Mulher (CAISM). Hospital da Mulher Professor Doutor José Aristodemo Pinotti. Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Campinas , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Introduction: During pregnancy, various complications may arise, leading to preterm birth, such as gestational diabetes, urinary tract infections, cervical insufficiency, etc. Additionally, occupational and environmental conditions, such as exposure to air pollutants and variations in ambient temperature, are also factors that can increase the risk of preterm birth. According to studies, an increase in ambient temperature may lead to a rise in maternal temperature, as pregnant women have a reduced thermoregulation capacity, which can result in premature rupture of fetal membranes. Methodological studies can provide insights into mechanisms for monitoring maternal temperature variations, such as wearable devices like smartwatches, which capture thermal variations over 24 hours. The data collected through these devices can be used to analyze thermal patterns and identify periods of vulnerability.Objectives:Assess the correlation between ambient temperature and body temperature recorded by wearable device data and their associations with maternal and perinatal outcomes.Evaluate individual temperature patterns associated with preterm birth and birth weight.Materials and Methods:This is a secondary analysis of a prognostic cohort that monitored the temperature of low-risk pregnant women throughout the entire gestational period. Due to the exploratory and innovative nature of this study, there were no available data to allow for a sample size calculation; therefore, the final sample size was set at 400 low-risk pregnant women. The selected subjects were recruited from five prenatal care centers in three different regions of Brazil, which are part of the Brazilian Network for Studies in Reproductive and Perinatal Health. Over six months, eligible women for sensor use were identified.Exclusion criteria include gestational age and obstetric history (greater than or equal to 30 weeks, three or more previous miscarriages, malformations), preexisting diseases, complications in the current pregnancy, use of specific medications, and other conditions. Data collection was conducted by trained assistants during the first and second prenatal visits. Annex 1 and Annex 3 were completed by the assistants and archived in the online MedSciNet system.Discontinuation criteria include withdrawal of informed consent by the participant, loss or theft of the device without replacement, device usage time lower than 50% of the expected period, and loss to follow-up.