Investigators: Catherine Nguyen, Lauren Fisher, Lauren Nguyen
This study investigated changes in prevalence of environmental and lifestyle risk factors for the Western Australian antenatal population over three decades, by comparing the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study with the Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) birthing population. Increases in specific prenatal risk factors, such as average age, weight/BMI, coupled with higher rates of mental illness, liver disease, gestational diabetes and thyroid disease in the JHC population were identified. These changes may be contributing to the increasing burden of non-communicable diseases. The results will inform future research and clinical practice in modifying causal pathways of ill health.