Cooking fuel and the risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension in Lanzhou, China: A birth cohort study

Abstract Background The relationship between the solid fuels and the occurrence of pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH) is inconclusive. Methods A birth cohort study of 10,452 pregnant women without chronic hypertension was conducted from 2010 to 2012 at the Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital in Lanzhou, China. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to assess the relationship. Results Compared to pregnant women using gas as cooking fuel, pregnant women using coal (OR=2.55, 95% CI: 1.85-3.51)and biomass (OR=3.58, 95% CI: 2.29-5.60) were associated with an increased risk of PIH, gestational hypertension (biomass: OR=3.38, 95% CI: 1.68-6.80), and preeclampsia (coal: OR=2.89, 95% CI: 1.98-4.21; biomass: OR=3.38, 95% CI: 1.95-5.84).The relationship between cooking fuel and PIH is modified by maternal age(p<0.0001), pre-pregnancy BMI (p<0.0001), gestational weigh gain(p<0.0001), parity(p<0.0001), and multiple birth (p<0.0001). Conclusions During pregnancy, exposure to coal or biomass was associated with an increased risk of PIH and preeclampsia.