[Prenatal exposure to ambient air pollution and congenital heart disease: a Meta-analysis].

Objective

To explore the association between exposure to ambient air pollution during pregnancy and congenital heart disease so as to provide evidence for primary prevention of congenital heart disease.

Methods

Epidemiologic studies on ambient air pollution and congenital heart diseases were reviewed. Summary risk estimates were calculated at high versus low exposure levels and risk per-unit-increase in continuous pollutant concentration. Meta-analysis was conducted with Stata 12.0 software.

Results

A total of 20 articles in English were qualified for inclusion. Results from Meta-analysis showed that CO exposures were related to the increase on the risk of tetralogy of fallot (high versus low exposure level OR=1.22, 95%CI: 1.03-1.44), while the exposures to NO(2) were related to the increase on risk of coarctation of aorta (per 10 mm(3)/m(3) OR=1.01, 95%CI: 1.01-1.20). Exposures to O(3) were related to the increase on risk of atrial septal defect (per 10 mm(3)/m(3) OR=1.14, 95%CI: 1.03-1.26), and PM(10) exposures were related to the increase on risk of atrial septal defect (per 10 μg/m(3) OR=1.10, 95%CI: 1.03-1.19). In addition, there were inverse associations between CO and atrial septal defect and between PM(10) and ventricular septal defect.

Conclusion

Exposures to CO, NO(2), O(3), PM(10) during pregnancy seemed to be associated with congenital heart diseases.