Oil and Gas Development and Adverse Birth Outcomes: A Qualitative and Quantitative Bias Analysis of the Epidemiologic Literature.

Abstract

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: A growing body of literature examines links between oil and gas development and adverse pregnancy outcomes. However, these studies may be vulnerable to common sources of bias in perinatal epidemiology. We extend a prior systematic review with a joint qualitative and quantitative bias analysis. RECENT FINDINGS: Across 18 studies, the most commonly evaluated outcomes were low birth weight (78%), preterm birth (72%), and small-for-gestational-age (56%). Qualitative bias analysis showed that the vast majority of studies had evidence of fixed cohort and live birth biases, respectively. Quantitative bias analysis estimating the potential magnitude and direction of bias due to unmeasured confounding by socioeconomic status suggested little influence under our assumptions. This review highlights important sources of bias that should be considered when interpreting findings related to the relationship between oil and gas development and birth outcomes. We provide recommendations for future research.