Shift work, long recognized as a carcinogen and cardiovascular risk factor, is now emerging as a significant determinant of obstetric outcomes. A large cohort from Wuhan revealed that maternal shift work increased PTB risk independent of confounders, with low-income women experiencing the greatest vulnerability. These findings highlight circadian misalignment and socioeconomic stress as synergistic contributors to PTB pathophysiology.
Incorporating these variables into antenatal screening may improve our ability to stratify high-risk pregnancies beyond conventional biomedical markers. What does this mean for your next case? Find out here Should occupational circadian disruption be considered a modifiable lifestyle risk factor in obstetric guidelines?
