The relationship between cadmium exposure and preeclampsia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Abstract Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that has been associated with several disorders in humans. Preeclampsia is a major cause of maternal mortality worldwide. Despite numerous studies on the subject, the association between Cd exposure and preeclampsia remains elusive. To better understand this relationship, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of eligible studies from five databases (PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, and CNKI) from their inception to September 10, 2022. The quality of these studies was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale (NOS). We calculated overall standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using random-effects models. Sensitivity analyses were performed to assess the robustness of our results. We also evaluated publication bias using Egger’s and Begg’s tests. Additionally, we conducted meta-regression and subgroup analyses to identify potential sources of heterogeneity among studies. Our analysis included a total of 17 studies with 10,373 participants. We found a significant association between maternal cadmium exposure and the risk of preeclampsia (SMD 0.27, 95% CI 0.09–0.44, p < 0.001). No significant publication bias was detected in either Begg’s or Egger’s tests. Meta-regression suggested that factors such as geographical location, year of publication, cadmium samples, sample size, and measurement methods did not contribute to heterogeneity between studies. Our findings suggest that maternal cadmium exposure is associated with an increased risk of preeclampsia. Further high-quality clinical studies and animal experiments are needed to better understand this association.