A Comprehensive Assessment of the Associations Between Season of Conception and Birth Defects, Texas, 1999–2015

Bibliographic Data

ID15469588
AuthorsElisa Benavides (Baylor College of Medicine), Philip J Lupo (0000-0003-0978-5863, Baylor College of Medicine), Peter H Langlois (0000-0001-6765-4963, The University of Texas at Austin), Jeremy M Schraw (0000-0002-6674-9562, Baylor College of Medicine, corresponding author)
Year2020
Volume17
Issue19
Pages7120-7120
Publication date2020-09-29
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph17197120
PMID33003294
OpenAlexW3088990629
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited23

Birth defects prevalence may vary seasonally, but previous studies have focused on a few commonly occurring phenotypes. We performed a phenome-wide association study (PheWAS) in order to evaluate the associations between season of conception and a broad range of birth defects. Date of conception was estimated for all livebirths and birth defect cases in Texas from 1999-2015 using data from vital records, provided by the Texas Department of State Health Services Center for Health Statistics. Birth defects diagnoses were obtained from the Texas Birth Defects Registry, a statewide, active surveillance system. We estimated prevalence ratios (PRs) for phenotypes with ≥50 cases according to conception in spring (March-May), summer (June-August) or fall (September-November) relative to winter (December-February), using Poisson regression. Season of conception was associated with 5% of birth defects studied in models adjusted for maternal age, education, race/ethnicity, and number of previous livebirths. Specifically, summer conception was associated with any monitored birth defect (PR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04) and five specific phenotypes, most notably Hirschsprung disease (PR 1.46, 95% CI 1.22-1.75). These findings suggest that seasonally variable exposures influence the development of several birth defects and may assist in identifying novel environmental risk factors

Environmental health · Ethnic group · Poisson regression · Population · Season of birth · Demography · Environmental Justice and Health Disparities · Folate and B Vitamins Research · Medicine · Epidemiology · Pediatrics

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