Table 1 Characteristics of 18 cohort studies included in the meta-analysis.
Source | Study period | Age* (years) | No. of cases/participants | Exposure assessment | Exposure Period | Exposure categories | Result | Variables Adjusted | Score of quality assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mamelle et al.19, France | 1977–78 | NA | 131/1,928 | Face to face interview | During the whole pregnancy | Commuting PA: No; Yes. | RR (95% CI): 1.0 (reference); 0.9 (0.6–1.3). | Age, parity, previous poor pregnancy outcome, and pathologic states during pregnancy. | 6 |
Hatch et al.20, USA | 1987–89 | 27.6 ± 4.5 | 25/462 | Telephone interview or mail questionnaire | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | Crude RR (95% CI)†: 1.00 (reference); 0.72 (0.34–1.55). | NA | 6 |
Henriksen et al.22, Denmark | 1989–91 | 30.0 ± 6.0 | 152/4,076 | Self-administered questionnaire | During the second and third trimester | Domestic PA (lift load kg/day): 0–20; 21–60; 61–100; >100. | Crude RR (95% CI)†: 1.00 (reference); 0.71 (0.36–1.38); 0.50 (0.21–1.22); 0.87 (0.54–1.40). | NA | 7 |
Hickey et al.23, England | 1985–88 | 25.5 ± 5.9 | 71/592 | Self-administered questionnaire | The first 24 to 26 weeks | Domestic PA (intensity): Low; High. | Crude RR (95% CI)†: 1.00 (reference); 0.99 (0.60–1.65). | NA | 5 |
Commuting PA (minute/day): 1–30; 31–60; >60. | Crude RR (95% CI)†: 1.00 (reference); 1.14 (0.69–1.87); 1.06 (0.60–1.89). | ||||||||
Misra et al.9, USA | 1988–89 | 24.6 ± 6.6 | 198/1,166 | Face to face or telephone interview | During first two trimesters | Leisure-time PA (days): <60; ≥60. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.51 (0.27–0.95). | Age, race, illicit drug use, prenatal care, height, smoking, insurance/Aid to Families with Dependent Children, parity, obstetrical complication, antepartum hospitalization, and febrile/antibiotic administration. | 7 |
Domestic PA (Lifting heavy objects): No; Yes. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 1.43 (0.85–2.41). | ||||||||
Commuting PA (day/week): <4; ≥4. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 2.10 (1.38–3.20). | ||||||||
Tuntiseranee et al.24, Thailand | 1994–95 | 25.6 ± 5.7 | 57/1,121 | Face to face interview | At the 17th week of gestation (range: 15 to 28 weeks) | Domestic PA (hour/week): Light ≤50; Heavy ≤50; Light >51; Heavy >51. | OR (95% CI): 1.0 (reference); 0.6 (0.2–1.9); 0.7 (0.2–2.6); 0.9 (0.2–3.4). | Age, parity, height, obstetrical complication, baby’s sex, squatting, standing, prenatal care, weight at deliver day, working hours, fast walk, lifting more than 12 kilograms, lifting level, carrying more than 12 kilograms, physical job demand, and work control. | 7 |
Commuting PA (hour/day): ≤0.5; 0.6–1; ≥1.1. | OR (95% CI): 1.0 (reference); 0.9 (0.3–2.4); 1.4 (0.3–6.1). | ||||||||
Cavalli &Tanaka25, 2001, Japan | 1997–98 | 29.1 ± 5.1 | 86/1,692 | Mail questionnaire | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.68 (0.39–1.17). | NA | 5 |
Domestic PA: Did all of them; Did more than half of them; Did half or less of them. | Crude RR (95% CI)†: 1.00 (reference); 0.44 (0.22–0.77); 0.52 (0.31–0.90). | ||||||||
Evenson et al.26, USA | 1995–98 | NA | 193/1,699 | Telephone interview | During first two trimesters | Leisure-time PA (hour/week): 0; 0.1–2.9 ≥ 3. | OR (95% CI)‡: 1.00 (reference); 0.64 (0.34–1.20) 0.76 (0.44–1.32). | Age, smoking, BMI, marital status, education, race, parity, quartiles of energy intake in kilocalorie, and bedrest. | 6 |
Orr et al.27, USA | 1993–95 | 30.6 ± 6.9 | 126/922 | Face to face interview | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.93 (0.63–1.38). | Age, marital status, education, Alcohol consumption, drug use, vaginal bleeding, chronic diseases, previous poor pregnancy outcome, and smoking. | 7 |
Domingues et al.28, Brazil | 2004 | 26.6 ± 5.0 | 606/4,147 | Face to face interview | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA (minute): Inactive; Tertile 1; Tertile 2; Tertile 3. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.73 (0.44–1.22); 0.82 (0.56–1.29); 0.73 (0.46–1.14). | Age, birth interval, family income, race, education, prenatal care, and pregnancy-related morbidities. | 8 |
Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.55 (0.32–0.96). | ||||||||
During first trimester | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.80 (0.59–1.07). | |||||||
During second trimester | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.90 (0.66–1.23). | |||||||
During third trimester | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.50 (0.31–0.80). | |||||||
Hegaard et al.29, Denmark | 1989–91 | NA | 210/5,749 | Self-administered questionnaire | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA (intensity): Sedentary; Light; Moderate to heavy. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.76 (0.60–1.02); 0.34 (0.14–0.85). | Age, marital status, education, parity, BMI, employment status, psychological distress, and smoking. | 7 |
Leisure-time PA (hour/week): 0; 1–2; >3. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.80 (0.53–1.23); 0.70 (0.38–1.28). | ||||||||
Juhl et al.30, Denmark | 1996–2002 | 29.4 ± 4.2 | 4,279/87,232 | Computer-assisted telephone interview | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA (MET*hour/week): 0; >0– ≤5; >5–≤10; >10– ≤15; >15. | HR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.77 (0.68–0.87); 0.82 (0.74–0.91); 0.83 (0.71–0.96); 0.88 (0.78, 1.00). | Age, gravidity, parity, previous spontaneous abortions, uterine fibroids/malformations/cone biopsy, sub-fecundity, coffee consumption, alcohol consumption, smoking, BMI, job status, working hours, working position, and job strain. | 8 |
Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | HR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.82 (0.76–0.88). | ||||||||
Omokhodion et al.31, Nigeria | 2008 | 30.6 ± 6.5 | 99/997 | Face to face interview | During the whole pregnancy | Domestic PA (hour/day): ≤2; >2. | Unadjusted OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.87 (0.46–1.65). | NA | 7 |
Domestic PA (lifting heavy objects): No; Yes. | Unadjusted OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 1.56 (0.91–2.67). | ||||||||
Dumith et al.32, Southern Brazil | 2007 | 26.6 ± 6.8 | 422/2,557 | Face to face interview | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA: No; Yes. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.98 (0.79–1.22). | Age, marital status, education, family income, parity, prenatal consultation, and twin delivery. | 7 |
Jukic et al.34, USA | 2004–07 | 29.8 ± 5.0 | 131/1,552 | Telephone interview | First trimester | Leisure-time PA: None; Non-vigorous recreational; ≥1 minute/week of vigorous activity. | OR (95% CI): 1.0 (reference); 1.2 (0.7–2.0); 0.6 (0.3–1.2). | Age, race, education, family income, marital status, alcohol consumption, BMI, smoking, illicit drug use, previous poor pregnancy outcome, vaginal bleeding, vomiting, diabetes, starting to exercise in preparation for getting pregnant, and change in vigorous activity compared to before pregnancy. | 7 |
Domestic PA: None; Non-vigorous household activity; ≥1 minute/week of vigorous activity. | OR (95% CI): 1.0 (reference); 0.5 (0.3–0.9); 0.5 (0.2–1.3). | ||||||||
Owe et al.33, Norway | 2000–06 | NA | 2,667/56,853 | Mail questionnaire | First two trimesters | Leisure-time PA: 0; 1–3/month; 1–2/week; 3–5/week; ≥6/week. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.90 (0.81–1.01); 0.81 (0.73–0.89); 0.76 (0.68–0.86); 0.81 (0.62–1.05). | Age, education, BMI, smoking, and parity. | 6 |
Sealy-Jefferson et al.35, USA | 2001–04 | 23.0 ± 6.0 | 135/686 | Face to face interview | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA (intensity): None; Light/moderate; High. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 1.01 (0.71–1.44); 0.35 (0.11–1.01). | Age, education, prenatal drug use, smoking, chronic disease history, family resource scales, locus of control, stress, and depression. | 8 |
Leisure-time PA (minute/week): 0; 1–60; >60. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.91 (0.61–1.36); 0.77 (0.44–1.36). | ||||||||
Commuting PA (minute/day): ≤30; >30. | PR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 0.64 (0.43–0.94). | ||||||||
Tinloy et al.36, USA | 2009–11 | 27.5 ± 4.6 | 118/2,370 | Telephone interview | During the whole pregnancy | Leisure-time PA (minute/week): <60; 60–149; ≥150. | OR (95% CI): 1.00 (reference); 1.14 (0.71–1.84); 1.12 (0.67–1.86). | Age, race, marital status, education, family income, pre-pregnancy weight category, gestational weight gain, and diabetes or hypertension. | 7 |
