A first-of-its-kind study led by Jun Wu, PhD, professor of environmental and occupational health at UC Irvine Program in Public Health, found that exposure to extreme heat had an association with severe maternal morbidity (SMM). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention define SMM as severe and unexpected conditions during labor and delivery, such as amniotic fluid embolism, acute myocardial infarction, acute kidney failure, cardiac arrest, disseminated intravascular coagulation, heart failure, severe anesthesia complications, and sepsis.
For the past few decades, extreme heat episodes have become more and more frequent. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration tracked July 2023 as the hottest on record ever. Women who started their pregnancy in the cold season from November through April might be more vulnerable, as they would experience the hottest period in Southern California (May-September) in their late pregnancy. The severity and duration of extreme heat events will continue to increase and pose more threats to pregnant women due to their susceptibility.
The research findings hope to be used to build targeted interventions that can increase awareness and knowledge on how pregnant women can protect themselves from exposure to extreme heat.
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