Yingying Liu1, Nan Li2, Zhiwen Li1, Le Zhang1, Hongtian Li1, Yali Zhang1, Jian-Meng Liu1, Rongwei Ye3. 1. Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Chinese National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University Health Science Center, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, China. 2. Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Chinese National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University Health Science Center, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, China. Electronic address: linan01@pku.edu.cn. 3. Institute of Reproductive and Child Health/Chinese National Health Commission Key Laboratory of Reproductive Health, Peking University Health Science Center, China; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Peking University Health Science Center, China. Electronic address: yerw@bjmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggested an association between fetal sex preponderance and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, but the conclusions were inconsistent. Our objective was to investigate whether the occurrence of gestational hypertensive disorders would affect the possibility of delivering boys. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China-US Collaborative Project for Neural Tube Defects Prevention, a large population-based cohort study. We included participants who were registered in 2 southern Chinese provinces, and whose information of blood pressure and sex delivery were recorded in detailed. Blood pressure was measured during pregnancy by trained health care workers and other health-related information was recorded prospectively. We used log-binomial regression to evaluate the association between gestational hypertension or preeclampsia and the chance of male delivery. RESULTS: Among 205,605 singleton pregnancy women, the overall incidences of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were 9.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The prevalence of male delivery was 51.1% and 50.2% in the groups of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, while in the normotension group was 52.0%. After adjustment for the effects of the main potential confounders, women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia both showed significantly decreased probability of giving birth to a boy. The adjusted risk ratios (RRs) were 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-0.99) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94-0.99), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a slight but significant association between gestational hypertension or preeclampsia and decreased likelihood of male delivery.
BACKGROUND: Recent studies suggested an association between fetal sex preponderance and hypertensive disorders during pregnancy, but the conclusions were inconsistent. Our objective was to investigate whether the occurrence of gestational hypertensive disorders would affect the possibility of delivering boys. METHODS: Data were obtained from the China-US Collaborative Project for Neural Tube Defects Prevention, a large population-based cohort study. We included participants who were registered in 2 southern Chinese provinces, and whose information of blood pressure and sex delivery were recorded in detailed. Blood pressure was measured during pregnancy by trained health care workers and other health-related information was recorded prospectively. We used log-binomial regression to evaluate the association between gestational hypertension or preeclampsia and the chance of male delivery. RESULTS: Among 205,605 singleton pregnancy women, the overall incidences of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia were 9.5% and 2.4%, respectively. The prevalence of male delivery was 51.1% and 50.2% in the groups of gestational hypertension and preeclampsia, while in the normotension group was 52.0%. After adjustment for the effects of the main potential confounders, women with gestational hypertension and preeclampsia both showed significantly decreased probability of giving birth to a boy. The adjusted risk ratios (RRs) were 0.98 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.97-0.99) and 0.96 (95% CI: 0.94-0.99), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Our results support a slight but significant association between gestational hypertension or preeclampsia and decreased likelihood of male delivery.