The research involved trial participants in Pakistan, India, Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guatemala.
Aspirin may have an unexpected benefit for pregnant people exposed to humid heat, according to a new study.
Previous research has established that exposure to extreme heat and humidity may be among the environmental factors that can contribute to preterm and early-term birth. Delivering before full-term may increase the risks of low birth weight, developmental delays, infant mortality, and declines in maternal well-being. Regions most affected by extreme heat and humidity — which can amplify the effects of heat by challenging the body's attempt to cool through sweating — may experience higher rates of preterm birth.
However, taking low doses of aspirin early in pregnancy "may mitigate the effects of heat exposure on preterm birth," according to a study published earlier this month in JAMA Network Open by researchers from more than half a dozen countries.
The research — involving trial participants in Pakistan, India, Kenya, Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Guatemala — found that "the rate of preterm birth was lower in women who took low-dose aspirin (11.6%) compared with those who took a placebo (13.1%)," a summary at The Conversation described.
It also found that an increase of 1 degree Celsius in "mean daily maximum shaded wet-bulb globe temperature across gestation was associated with a 5% increased odds of preterm birth" among those not taking the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. The effects could be associated with aspirin's ability to reduce inflammation and improve blood flow.
Meanwhile, according to the co-authors, "Caution is warranted, as aspirin did not mitigate the association between heat and perinatal mortality; instead, we noted an increased effect size among aspirin recipients compared with placebo recipients." Further research is needed to understand this potential relationship.
Pregnant people should consult with their doctors before taking any medication, including aspirin. Meanwhile, taking low-dose aspirin has also been recommended for the potential prevention of preeclampsia — itself a condition of pregnancy that may be exacerbated by environmental factors such as pollution.
And as emissions, air quality concerns, and the rising temperatures resulting from the blanket of heat-trapping gases encircling the planet increase, researchers are likely to explore a range of possible solutions to the medical dangers pregnant people may face as a result.
Kirsten Krueger contributed to the editing of this article.
"Pollution and climate shifts make the regular stressors more extreme and add new stressors," Jamie DeWitt, a study co-author and Director of the Pacific Northwest Center for Translational Environmental Health Research at Oregon State University, told CG.
"We need low-cost ways to come together now, in the wake of funding cuts, even though the issues are as urgent as ever," Ashley Wolfington, a veteran of international development, told CG.
"Reported user feedback includes easier insertion, less dryness on removal, and strong overall comfort," Vyld co-founder Melanie Schichan told CG.
Litigation on the matter is set to continue in the lower courts and could return to the Supreme Court down the line. But, for now, telemedicine, mail delivery, and pharmacy dispensing of the medication — which can be used to end a pregnancy — can continue where it is otherwise legal.
