Exposure misclassification due to residential mobility during pregnancy.
Susan Hodgson1, Peter W W Lurz2, Mark D F Shirley3
1MRC-PHE Centre for Environment & Health, Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, Imperial College London, United Kingdom; Institute of Health & Society, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom.
Summary
Maternal residential mobility during pregnancy can alter exposure assessments for environmental factors like air pollution. This study highlights the importance of considering migration to accurately link exposures to health outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Reproductive Health
- Geospatial Analysis
Background:
- Pregnant women are a mobile population, yet the impact of residential changes on exposure assessment is debated.
- Previous studies suggest minimal exposure error due to migration during pregnancy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effect of maternal residential mobility on exposure to environmental and socio-economic factors.
- To assess the spatial and temporal variability of exposures like urban fabric, road proximity, air pollution (PM10, NO₂), and deprivation.
Main Methods:
- Utilized residential history data from 5399 deliveries (2000-2008) from the Northern Congenital Abnormality Survey.
- Compared exposure at conception based on postcode at delivery versus postcode at conception.
- Compared exposure at conception based on postcode at delivery versus mean exposure across all residences during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- 24.4% of women relocated during pregnancy.
- 1-12% of women had an exposure at delivery differing by >1 standard deviation from exposure at conception.
- 2-25% had an exposure at delivery differing by >1 standard deviation from the mean exposure during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
- Maternal residential mobility introduces potential exposure error in epidemiological studies.
- Accurate assessment of environmental exposures requires accounting for residential changes during pregnancy.
- Understanding residential mobility is crucial for exploring subtle associations between environmental exposures and health outcomes.
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