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Parents’ employment and non-chromosomal congenital anomalies in Korea: a national population cohort study
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Kyuwon Kim, Hoyol Jhang, Erdenetuya Bolormaa, Chae Bong Kim, Seung-Ah Choe
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Epidemiol Health. 2025;47:e2025018. Published online April 10, 2025
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2025018
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 Abstract
Summary
 PDF Supplementary Material
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
We assessed the association between parents’ employment status, including industrial classification, and non-chromosomal congenital anomalies in offspring.
METHODS We analyzed data from mothers who delivered live births between 2020 and 2022, linking their records with those of their neonates from the National Health Information Service (NHIS) database. Our analysis focused on common industrial classifications representing at least 6% of the total workforce. Congenital anomalies were identified based on neonates’ diagnostic codes. We conducted logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of congenital anomalies by the industrial classification of mothers and their partners, adjusting for individual risk factors, with the financial industry serving as the reference category.
RESULTS Among 338,637 women with a live birth, 148,818 (43.9%) were employed at the time of pregnancy. Employment was associated with a higher risk of congenital anomalies (OR, 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.04 to 1.12). Within the common industrial classifications, health and social work exhibited the highest risk (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 1.06 to 1.22) compared to the financial industry. Women employed in general hospitals showed particularly elevated risks (OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.37). Among male partners, the risk estimates were generally imprecise.
CONCLUSIONS The study indicates that certain industries are linked with a higher risk of congenital anomalies among women workers. These findings underscore the need for enhanced safety measures in high-risk industrial settings to reduce the occurrence of congenital anomalies.
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Summary
Korean summary
- 2020~2022년 출산 여성 338,637명 중 43.9%가 임신 중 고용 상태였으며, 고용된 상태는 비염색체성 선천 기형 위험 증가와 연관됨(오즈비=1.08; 95% 신뢰구간[CI] 1.04–1.12).
- 산업별 분석에서 금융업을 참조 기준으로 할 때, 보건·사회복지업이 가장 높은 위험을 보였고(1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.22), 특히 종합병원에 근무하는 여성에서 위험이 특히 높았음(1.19; 95% CI 1.04–1.37).
- 남성 파트너에서는 선천 기형 위험을 높이는 산업 분류는 뚜렷하지 않았으며 위험 추정치의 신뢰 구간이 전반적으로 넓고 정밀도가 낮았음.
Key Message
- Among 338,637 women who delivered between 2020 and 2022, 43.9% were employed during pregnancy, and employment status was associated with an increased risk of non-chromosomal congenital anomalies (OR 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04–1.12).
- Compared to the financial industry, health and social work showed the highest risk (OR 1.11; 95% CI 1.06–1.22), with women working in general hospitals exhibiting an even greater elevated risk (OR 1.19; 95% CI 1.04–1.37).
- Risk estimates by industrial classification for male partners were generally imprecise, with wide confidence intervals.
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