Mediating Factors in the Association of Maternal Educational Level With Pregnancy Outcomes: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors' conclusion
In this MR cohort study, intervening for type 2 diabetes, body mass index, smoking, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level, and systolic blood pressure may lead to reductions in several adverse pregnancy outcomes associated with lower levels of education. Such public health interventions would serve to reduce health disparities attributable to social inequalities.
Study context
- Population
- Individuals of European ancestry, largely from Finland, Iceland, the UK or the US; GWAS summary datawith educational attainment data
- Participants
- 3,037,499 individuals
- Exposure
- Per SD increase in genetically estimated educational attainment
- Outcome
- Ectopic pregnancy, hyperemesis gravidarum, GDM, preeclampsia, preterm birth and offspring birth weight
Methodological details2-sample mendelian randomization, inverse variance-weighted main analysis, weighted median, weighted mode and mendelian randomization (MR) Egger sensitivity analyses, multivariable MR mediation analysis, Data extracted between December 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023
- 2-sample mendelian randomization
- Inverse variance-weighted main analysis
- Weighted median, weighted mode and MR Egger sensitivity analyses
- Multivariable MR mediation analysis
- Data extracted between December 1, 2022, and April 30, 2023
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Offspring birth weight increase, g
42
95% CI 28–56
OR, ectopic pregnancy
0.53
95% CI 0.46–0.60
OR, preeclampsia
0.81
95% CI 0.71–0.93
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Combined proportion mediated by 5 cardiometabolic risk factors (T2D, BMI, smoking, HDL-C, systolic blood pressure)
- Hyperemesis gravidarum
- −17% (95% CI −46% to 26%)
- Preeclampsia
- 78% (95% CI 10%-208%)
- Range from −17% to 78% across outcomes
Sensitivity analyses accounting for pleiotropy
- Consistent with the main analyses
Original publication
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →