Radiation procedures performed on U.S. women during pregnancy: findings from two 1980 surveys.

Abstract

The 1980 National Natality Survey (NNS) and 1980 National Fetal Mortality Survey (NFMS) provide a unique opportunity to examine variation in exposure to radiation during pregnancy for mothers of live-born and stillborn infants. Maternal race, age, education, and marital status in both surveys and low birth weight in the 1980 NNS are characteristics used to examine exposure rates for X-ray, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, shortwave, and microwave radiation examinations and treatments. About 15 percent of mothers of live infants and 23 percent of mothers who experienced stillbirths (fetal deaths of 28 weeks or more gestation) had a medical X-ray procedure during pregnancy. The 15 percent exposed in 1980 was a reduction from 22.5 percent of mothers exposed according to the results of the 1963 NNS; this reduction occurred in all race and age groups. About 34 percent of 1980 NNS mothers and 53 percent of 1980 NFMS mothers had ultrasound exposure during pregnancy. Radiation exposure rates were higher for 1980 NNS mothers who had low birth weight infants (under 2,500 g, or 5 lb, 8 oz) than for those who had normal weight infants.

AI evidence extraction

Main findings

In 1980, about 15% of mothers of live infants and 23% of mothers with stillbirths reported a medical X-ray procedure during pregnancy. About 34% of mothers in the 1980 National Natality Survey and 53% of mothers in the 1980 National Fetal Mortality Survey had ultrasound exposure during pregnancy; exposure rates were higher among mothers of low birth weight infants than among those with normal weight infants.

Outcomes measured

• Exposure rates to X-ray during pregnancy
• Exposure rates to ultrasound during pregnancy
• Exposure rates to nuclear medicine during pregnancy
• Exposure rates to shortwave radiation examinations/treatments during pregnancy
• Exposure rates to microwave radiation examinations/treatments during pregnancy
• Association of exposure rates with maternal characteristics (race, age, education, marital status)
• Exposure rates by infant outcome (live birth vs stillbirth)
• Exposure rates by birth weight (low birth weight vs normal)

Limitations

• Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata
• No quantitative results provided for nuclear medicine, shortwave, or microwave exposures beyond being examined
• Observational survey-based exposure assessment; potential for reporting/recall limitations not described in the abstract
• Causality between exposures and outcomes cannot be determined from exposure-rate comparisons alone

{
    "study_type": "cross_sectional",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "medical procedures during pregnancy (X-ray, ultrasound, nuclear medicine, shortwave, microwave)",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "U.S. women during pregnancy (mothers of live-born and stillborn infants)",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Exposure rates to X-ray during pregnancy",
        "Exposure rates to ultrasound during pregnancy",
        "Exposure rates to nuclear medicine during pregnancy",
        "Exposure rates to shortwave radiation examinations/treatments during pregnancy",
        "Exposure rates to microwave radiation examinations/treatments during pregnancy",
        "Association of exposure rates with maternal characteristics (race, age, education, marital status)",
        "Exposure rates by infant outcome (live birth vs stillbirth)",
        "Exposure rates by birth weight (low birth weight vs normal)"
    ],
    "main_findings": "In 1980, about 15% of mothers of live infants and 23% of mothers with stillbirths reported a medical X-ray procedure during pregnancy. About 34% of mothers in the 1980 National Natality Survey and 53% of mothers in the 1980 National Fetal Mortality Survey had ultrasound exposure during pregnancy; exposure rates were higher among mothers of low birth weight infants than among those with normal weight infants.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [
        "Sample size not reported in the provided abstract/metadata",
        "No quantitative results provided for nuclear medicine, shortwave, or microwave exposures beyond being examined",
        "Observational survey-based exposure assessment; potential for reporting/recall limitations not described in the abstract",
        "Causality between exposures and outcomes cannot be determined from exposure-rate comparisons alone"
    ],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.7399999999999999911182158029987476766109466552734375,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "pregnancy",
        "radiation exposure",
        "X-ray",
        "ultrasound",
        "nuclear medicine",
        "shortwave",
        "microwave",
        "National Natality Survey",
        "National Fetal Mortality Survey",
        "stillbirth",
        "low birth weight"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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