The Impact of Neighbourhood Deprivation on Embryonic Growth Trajectories: Rotterdam Periconception Cohort

Abstract

Background: Neighbourhood deprivation is a risk factor for impaired health and adverse pregnancy outcomes. We investigated whether living in a deprived neighbourhood is associated with embryonic growth. Methods: From the Predict cohort, we studied 566 women who underwent repeated first trimester ultrasound examinations. Crown rump length (CRL; n = 1707) and embryonic volume (EV; n = 1462) were measured using three-dimensional techniques. Neighbourhood deprivation was assessed using the neighbourhood status scores (NSS) of the Dutch Social Cultural Planning office. A high NSS represents a non-deprived neighbourhood. Associations between the NSS and embryonic growth were investigated using linear mixed models. Adjustment was performed for individual-level factors: maternal age, geographic origin, educational level, BMI, folic acid supplement use, fruit and vegetable intake, alcohol use and smoking habits. Results: The NSS was negatively associated with embryonic growth: a higher score (a less deprived neighbourhood) was associated with a smaller CRL and EV; adjusted β: −0.025 (95% CI −0.046, −0.003) and adjusted β: −0.015 (95% CI −0.026, −0.003). At 11 weeks of pregnancy, we observed a 0.55 cm3 smaller EV (7.65 cm3 vs. 7.10 cm3) and 1.08 mm smaller CRL (43.14 mm vs. 42.06 mm) in the highest compared to the lowest category. Conclusion: In deprived neighbourhoods, embryos are larger than in non-deprived neighbourhoods.

Association between neighbourhood deprivation, fetal growth, small-for-gestational age and preterm birth: a population-based prospective cohort study

“…The larger embryos in deprived neighbourhoods were hypothesised to be explained by strong unmeasured intrinsic and extrinsic factors, such as mental stressors. 41 The difference in direction of effects between that study and our current findings may be due to the different source populations; the first study was conducted in a tertiary hospital-based cohort, while the present study was performed within a population-based cohort.…”

Exposure to Outdoor Residential Noise During Pregnancy, Embryonic Size, Fetal Growth, and Birth Outcomes

“…(Jaddoe et al, 2014;Mook-Kanamori et al, 2010) However, our findings are in line with recent studies in which other adverse exposures have also been associated with larger embryonic size. (Gootjes et al, 2019) The exact mechanisms behind these associations remain unclear, but it has been hypothesized that accelerated growth in the first trimester might be an instant survival mechanism of the embryo to adapt to adverse intrauterine conditions. (Fleming et al, 2018;Gluckman et al, 2008) For example, maternal stress, which might be caused by long-term exposure to noise, has been associated with epigenetic changes in DNA methylation.…”