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Racial Differences in the Biochemical Effects of Stress in Pregnancy

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  • Paris Ekeke

    (Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health and Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA)

  • Dara D. Mendez

    (Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA)

  • Toby D. Yanowitz

    (Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA)

  • Janet M. Catov

    (Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Services, UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital and Department of Epidemiology, University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA)

Abstract

Prenatal stress has been linked to preterm birth via inflammatory dysregulation. We conducted a cross-sectional study on female participants who delivered live, singleton infants at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Magee Women’s Hospital. Participants ( n = 200) were stratified by cumulative risk scores using a combination of individual factors (maternal education, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, relationship status, obesity, depression) and neighborhood deprivation scores. We hypothesized that inflammatory cytokines levels differ by risk group and race. Multiplex analyses of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-13 and TNF-alpha were run. We found that Black birthing people had more risk factors for chronic stress and had lower levels of IL-6 compared to White birthing people. When stratified by risk group and race, low-risk Black birthing people had lower levels of IL-6 compared to low-risk White birthing people, and high-risk Black birthing people had lower levels of IL-8 compared to high-risk White birthing people. Higher area deprivation scores were associated with lower IL-6 levels. Our results suggest that the relationship between chronic stress and inflammatory cytokines is modified by race. We theorize that Black birthing people encounter repetitive stress due to racism and social disadvantage which may result in stress pathway desensitization and a blunted cytokine response to future stressors.

Suggested Citation

  • Paris Ekeke & Dara D. Mendez & Toby D. Yanowitz & Janet M. Catov, 2020. "Racial Differences in the Biochemical Effects of Stress in Pregnancy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-15, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:6941-:d:417638
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Braveman, P.A. & Heck, K. & Egerter, S. & Marchi, K.S. & Dominguez, T.P. & Cubbin, C. & Fingar, K. & Pearson, J.A. & Curtis, M., 2015. "The role of socioeconomic factors in Black-White disparities in preterm birth," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 105(4), pages 694-702.
    2. Collins Jr., J.W. & David, R.J. & Handler, A. & Wall, S. & Andes, S., 2004. "Very low birthweight in African American infants: The role of maternal exposure to interpersonal racial discrimination," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 94(12), pages 2132-2138.
    3. Alexander, G.R. & Kogan, M.D. & Nabukera, S., 2002. "Racial differences in prenatal care use in the United States: Are disparities decreasing?," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 92(12), pages 1970-1975.
    4. Ford, C.L. & Airhihenbuwa, C.O., 2010. "Critical race theory, race equity, and public health: Toward antiracism praxis," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 100(S1), pages 30-35.
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    Cited by:

    1. Jason Reece, 2021. "More Than Shelter: Housing for Urban Maternal and Infant Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-17, March.

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