ArticleBirth defects research2018
A population-based case-control study of the association between weather-related extreme heat events and orofacial clefts.
Article in Birth defects research, 2018. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 13 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
13 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Thermal indices for assessing the impact of outdoor thermal environments on human health: a systematic review of epidemiological studies.International journal of biometeorology · 2025Pooled it
- Prenatal ambient temperature and risk for schizophrenia.Schizophrenia research · 2022Pooled it
- Impacts of High Environmental Temperatures on Congenital Anomalies: A Systematic Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2021Pooled it
- Heat spells and birth and peripartum pregnancy complications in Germany: a scoping review.Archives of gynecology and obstetrics · 2026Article
- Climate Change and Reproductive Health.Endocrine reviews · 2025Review
- A scoping review on heat indices used to measure the effects of heat on maternal and perinatal health.BMJ public health · 2024Article
- Characteristics of Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Cleft Lip and/or Palate: A Case Analysis and Literature Review.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2024Article
- The Risk of Orofacial Cleft Lip/Palate Due to Maternal Ambient Air Pollution Exposure: A Call for Further Research in South Africa.Annals of global health · 2023Article
- Interaction of maternal medication use with ambient heat exposure on congenital heart defects in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study.Environmental research · 2022Article
- Modifiable Risk Factors of Non-Syndromic Orofacial Clefts: A Systematic Review.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Extreme Heat and Pregnancy Outcomes: A Scoping Review of the Epidemiological Evidence.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Effect of Elevated Ambient Temperature on Maternal, Foetal, and Neonatal Outcomes: A Scoping Review.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- A population-based case-control study of the association between weather-related extreme heat events and low birthweight.Journal of developmental origins of health and disease · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
13 authors.
Funding
Abstract
backgroundLimited epidemiologic research exists on the association between weather-related extreme heat events (EHEs) and orofacial clefts (OFCs). We estimated the associations between maternal exposure to EHEs in the summer season and OFCs in offspring and investigated the potential modifying effect of body mass index on these associations.
methodsWe conducted a population-based case-control study among mothers who participated in the National Birth Defects Prevention Study for whom at least 1 day of their first two post-conception months occurred during summer. Cases were live-born infants, stillbirths, and induced terminations with OFCs; controls were live-born infants without major birth defects. We defined EHEs using the 95th and the 90th percentiles of the daily maximum universal apparent temperature distribution. We used unconditional logistic regression with Firth's penalized likelihood method to estimate adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, controlling for maternal sociodemographic and anthropometric variables.
resultsWe observed no association between maternal exposure to EHEs and OFCs overall, although prolonged duration of EHEs may increase the risk of OFCs in some study sites located in the Southeast climate region. Analyses by subtypes of OFCs revealed no associations with EHEs. Modifying effect by BMI was not observed.
conclusionsWe did not find a significantly increased risk of OFCs associated with maternal exposure to EHEs during the relevant window of embryogenesis. Future studies should account for maternal indoor and outdoor activities and for characteristics such as hydration and use of air conditioning that could modify the effect of EHEs on pregnant women.
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