Maternal Traditional Chinese Medicine Exposure and Risk of Congenital Malformations: a Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

Overview

Journal Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand

Publisher Wiley

Specialty Gynecology & Obstetrics

Date 2023 Apr 19

PMID 37073619

Authors

Ting Peng

Lin-Liang Yin

Yu Xiong

Feng Xie

Chun-Ya Ji

Zhong Yang

Qi Pan

Ming-Qing Li

Xue-Dong Deng

Jing Dong

Jiang-Nan Wu

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: The potential teratogenic risk of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is of widespread concern; however, related evidence is largely absent in humans. This study aimed to compare the prevalence of congenital malformations between pregnant women with and without TCM exposure.

Material And Methods: This was a multicenter prospective cohort study of 17 713 women who participated in a survey on periconceptional TCM exposure. Primary outcome was congenital malformations diagnosed from a survey conducted on the day 42 after delivery.

Results: A total of 16 751 pregnant women with 273 congenital malformations were included in the analysis. Fetuses exposed to TCM had an increased risk of congenital malformations compared to those without exposure (odds ratio [OR] 2.10; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09-4.02) after controlling for potential confounders. There were significant associations with congenital malformations in women with early pregnant exposure (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.00-4.20) and for those who received ≥2 TCM formulas (OR 5.84, 95% CI 1.44-23.65). Pre-pregnancy TCM exposure was significantly associated with an increased risk of congenital heart defects (OR 12.69; 95% CI 3.01-53.51).

Conclusions: Periconceptional TCM exposure is associated with an increased risk of congenital malformation. This effect was cumulative and sensitive to periconceptional age. Therefore, TCM deserves more attention and should be used cautiously for pregnant women and those trying to become pregnant.

Citing Articles

Retracted: Maternal traditional Chinese medicine exposure and risk of congenital malformations: A multicenter prospective cohort study.

Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2023; 102(11):1602.

PMID: 37553823 PMC: 10577615. DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14649.

Maternal traditional Chinese medicine exposure and risk of congenital malformations: a multicenter prospective cohort study.

Peng T, Yin L, Xiong Y, Xie F, Ji C, Yang Z Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand. 2023; 102(6):735-743.

PMID: 37073619 PMC: 10201976. DOI: 10.1111/aogs.14553.

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