Abstract
Objective This study aims to examine whether maternal household income is associated with histological evidence of chronic placental inflammation. Study Design A total of 152 participants completed surveys of household income and consented to placenta collection at delivery and postpartum chart review for birth outcomes. Placental inflammatory lesions were evaluated via histological examination of the membranes, basal plate, and villous parenchyma by a single, experienced pathologist. Associations between household income and the presence of inflammatory lesions were adjusted for known perinatal risk factors. Results Overall, 45% of participants reporting household income below 30,000/y had chronic placental inflammation, compared with 25% of participants reporting income above 100,000 annually (odds ratio [OR] = 4.23, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.25, 14.28; p = 0.02). Middle-income groups showed intermediate rates of chronic inflammatory lesions, at 40% for those reporting 30,000 and 50,000 (OR = 3.60, 95% CI = 1.05, 12.53; p = 0.04) and 38% for those reporting 50,000 to 100,000 (OR = 1.57, 95% CI = 0.60, 4.14; p = 0.36). Results remained significant after adjustment for maternal age, race, and marital status. Conclusion Chronic placental inflammation is associated with maternal household income. Greater occurrence of placental lesions in low-income mothers may arise from a systemic inflammatory response to social and physical environmental factors.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 160508 |
Pages (from-to) | 1003-1010 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | American journal of perinatology |
Volume | 34 |
Issue number | 10 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Aug 1 2017 |
Funding
This work was supported by the NorthShore University HealthSystem Auxiliary Research Scholar Award, NorthShore Research Career Development Award, Northwestern University Institute for Policy Research and Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. For Stress in Pregnancy Study (SIPS): This work was supported by National Institutes of Health/Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Grant #1 K12 HD050121-02, Women's Reproductive Health Research Program, and an Evergreen Invitational Women's Health Grant Initiative Award, both awarded to Ann Borders.
Keywords
- chronic deciduitis
- chronic inflammation
- chronic villitis
- income
- placenta
- pregnancy
- stress
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health