Brisbane researchers have found a link between increases in temperature, shorter pregnancies, and the incidence of stillbirth. The study looked at the incidence of still and premature births in Brisbane over a four-year period from 2005.
“We found that increases in temperature increased the risk of stillbirth, and this was particularly true in the earlier stages of pregnancy before 28 weeks. Our estimated numbers were at 15°C there would be 353 stillbirths per 100,000 pregnancies, as compared with 610 stillbirths per 100,000 pregnancies at 23°C.”
A/Prof Adrian Barnett , Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, QUT
American Journal of Epidemiology
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