Abstract
Background Exposure to suboptimal intrauterine environment might induce structural and functional changes that can affect neonatal health. Telomere length as an important indicator of cellular health has been associated with increased risk for disease development. Objectives This study was aimed to examine the independent and combined effects of maternal, obstetric, and foetal factors on cord blood telomere length (TL). Methods Pregnant women at the gestational age of 20th to 24th week who attended the antenatal clinic of a major local hospital in Hong Kong were recruited. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire on demographics, health-related quality of life, and history of risk behaviors. Medical history including pregnancy complications and neonatal outcomes was obtained from electronic medical records of both mother and neonate. Umbilical cord blood was collected at delivery for TL determination. Results A total of 753 pregnant women (average age: 32.18 ± 4.51 years) were recruited. The prevalence of maternal infection, anaemia, and hypertension during pregnancy was 30.8%, 30.0%, and 6.0%, respectively. The adjusted regression model displayed that maternal infection was negatively associated with cord blood TL (β = −0.18, p = 0.026). This association became even stronger in the presence of antenatal anaemia, hypertension, delivery complications, or neonatal jaundice (β = −0.25 to −0.45). Conclusions This study consolidates evidence on the impact of adverse intrauterine environment at the cellular level. Maternal infection was significantly associated with shorter cord blood TL in a unique manner such that its presence may critically determine the susceptibility of telomere to other factors.
Highlights
Emerging evidence from epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies suggests that early adverse experiences may cause long-term health problems and increase susceptibility to disease [1, 2]
Our analyses showed that maternal infection during pregnancy was significantly associated with cord blood telomere length (TL) (β = −0:16, 95% confidence interval ðCIÞ = −0:31 to −0.005, p = 0:042)
There were no significant associations between cord blood TL and anaemia or hypertension, we found that having two pregnancy complications was significantly associated with cord blood TL (β = −0:28, 95% CI = −0:53 to −0.04, p = 0:023)
Summary
Emerging evidence from epidemiological, clinical, and experimental studies suggests that early adverse experiences may cause long-term health problems and increase susceptibility to disease [1, 2]. As developing foetuses are very sensitive to the quality of intrauterine environment, adverse exposures during this period of rapid cell replication and differentiation might cause permanent structural and functional impairments [3] which may increase the risk for Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity health problems in later years [4]. The adjusted regression model displayed that maternal infection was negatively associated with cord blood TL (β = −0:18, p = 0:026) This association became even stronger in the presence of antenatal anaemia, hypertension, delivery complications, or neonatal jaundice (β = −0:25 to −0.45). Maternal infection was significantly associated with shorter cord blood TL in a unique manner such that its presence may critically determine the susceptibility of telomere to other factors
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