Fetal sex and maternal pregnancy outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
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BORIS DOI
Publisher DOI
PubMed ID
32393396
Description
BACKGROUND
Since the placenta also has a sex, fetal sex-specific differences in the occurrence of placenta-mediated complications could exist.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association of fetal sex with multiple maternal pregnancy complications.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Six electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web-of-Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were systematically searched to identify eligible studies. Reference lists of the included studies and contact with experts were also used for identification of studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Observational studies that assessed fetal sex and the presence of maternal pregnancy complications within singleton pregnancies.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSES
Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers using a predesigned data collection form.
MAIN RESULTS
From 6522 original references, 74 studies were selected, including over 12,5 million women. Male fetal sex was associated with term pre-eclampsia (pooled OR 1.07 [95%CI 1.06 to 1.09]) and gestational diabetes (pooled OR 1.04 [1.02 to 1.07]). All other pregnancy complications (i.e., gestational hypertension, total pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, placental abruption, and post-partum hemorrhage) tended to be associated with male fetal sex, except for preterm pre-eclampsia, which was more associated with female fetal sex. Overall quality of the included studies was good. Between-study heterogeneity was high due to differences in study population and outcome definition.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis suggests that the occurrence of pregnancy complications differ according to fetal sex with a higher cardiovascular and metabolic load for the mother in the presence of a male fetus.
FUNDING
None.
Since the placenta also has a sex, fetal sex-specific differences in the occurrence of placenta-mediated complications could exist.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the association of fetal sex with multiple maternal pregnancy complications.
SEARCH STRATEGY
Six electronic databases Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central, Web-of-Science, PubMed, and Google Scholar were systematically searched to identify eligible studies. Reference lists of the included studies and contact with experts were also used for identification of studies.
SELECTION CRITERIA
Observational studies that assessed fetal sex and the presence of maternal pregnancy complications within singleton pregnancies.
DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSES
Data were extracted by 2 independent reviewers using a predesigned data collection form.
MAIN RESULTS
From 6522 original references, 74 studies were selected, including over 12,5 million women. Male fetal sex was associated with term pre-eclampsia (pooled OR 1.07 [95%CI 1.06 to 1.09]) and gestational diabetes (pooled OR 1.04 [1.02 to 1.07]). All other pregnancy complications (i.e., gestational hypertension, total pre-eclampsia, eclampsia, placental abruption, and post-partum hemorrhage) tended to be associated with male fetal sex, except for preterm pre-eclampsia, which was more associated with female fetal sex. Overall quality of the included studies was good. Between-study heterogeneity was high due to differences in study population and outcome definition.
CONCLUSION
This meta-analysis suggests that the occurrence of pregnancy complications differ according to fetal sex with a higher cardiovascular and metabolic load for the mother in the presence of a male fetus.
FUNDING
None.
Date of Publication
2020-05-11
Publication Type
Article
Subject(s)
600 - Technology::610 - Medicine & health
300 - Social sciences, sociology & anthropology::360 - Social problems & social services
Keyword(s)
Fetal sex Pregnancy complications
Language(s)
en
Contributor(s)
Broere-Brown, Zoe A | |
Adank, Maria C | |
Benschop, Laura | |
Tielemans, Myrte | |
Gonçalves, Romy | |
Bramer, Wichor M | |
Schoufour, Josje D | |
Voortman, Trudy | |
Steegers, Eric A P | |
Schalekamp-Timmermans, Sarah |
Additional Credits
Institut für Sozial- und Präventivmedizin (ISPM)
Series
Biology of Sex Differences
Publisher
BMC (part of Springer Nature)
ISSN
2042-6410
Access(Rights)
open.access