Physical Activity and High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein in Pregnancy: Does It Matter during Leisure or Work?

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction Physical activity (PA), regardless of domain, is recommended for pregnant individuals in clinical guidelines, but limited evidence is available for work-related PA. This study aimed to examine the associations of occupational (OPA) and leisure-time PA (LTPA) with plasma high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), a risk marker for adverse pregnancy outcomes, among pregnant individuals. Methods This longitudinal study included 257 workers in the fetal growth cohort. OPA/LTPA and hs-CRP were measured in each trimester. OPA/LTPA was divided into high and low groups by the median level. Multivariable linear regressions were applied to estimate the adjusted geometric mean differences of hs-CRP (mg·L−1) comparing high versus low OPA/LTPA in each trimester and the changes in OPA/LTPA over pregnancy. Results OPA was positively associated with hs-CRP (high: 5.14 vs low: 3.59; P value: 0.001) in the first trimester, particularly for standing/walking or walking fast, regardless of carrying things. LTPA was negatively associated with hs-CRP in the second (high: 3.93 vs low: 5.08; 0.02) and third trimesters (high: 3.30 vs low: 4.40; 0.046). Compared with the low OPA + high LTPA group, hs-CRP was higher in both the high OPA + high LTPA and high OPA + low LTPA groups in the first trimester, and in the high OPA + low LTPA group only in the third trimester. The change in OPA during pregnancy was positively associated with hs-CRP, whereas the change in LTPA was negatively associated with hs-CRP from the second to the third trimester. Conclusions In pregnant individuals, LTPA was negatively associated with hs-CRP, whereas OPA was positively associated with hs-CRP. More research on OPA’s health impact among pregnant individuals is needed, and guidelines may consider the potential unfavorable influence of OPA on pregnant individuals.