IPPCO Study Version 0.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Identifying and Protecting Pregnant Women from Carbon Monoxide (CO) Exposure
IRAS ID
301261
Contact name
Hilary Wareing
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
iPiP - Improving Performance in Practice
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
142232, LCRN West Midlands
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 5 months, 30 days
Research summary
Midwives are identifying pregnant women with unexplained raised levels of carbon monoxide (CO) when they conduct routine CO breath tests. Discussions have revealed that environmental exposure from faulty appliances has, in some cases, been identified as the cause of the raised levels.
In other cases, pregnant women who have been referred to stop smoking clinics, have, when quit, continued to provide higher than expected CO breath readings and have been similarly identified as having faulty fuel burning appliances.
As the symptoms of CO exposure are similar to those experienced during pregnancy, it is rarely considered as the cause of these symptoms in pregnant women.
Foetal and neonatal death, congenital malformations and neurological problems can occur with moderate to severe maternal exposure. Even with lower levels of exposure, adverse outcomes can occur, these include preterm delivery, low birthweight, congenital malformations, sudden infant death and neurodevelopmental problems.
This study aims to bring together information on breath CO levels at midwifery appointments with information collected on exposure in their home. Recruitment will trigger a visit by the local Fire and Rescue Service, they will undertake observations and ask questions relating to the potential risk of CO exposure in the home and place equipment in the home to monitor levels of CO over a two-week period.
A separate qualitative element of the study will gain insights into knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and concerns regarding CO exposure from pregnant women and local stakeholders. It will go on to develop potential approaches and interventions to help better protect pregnant women and their unborn child.
This study will help us understand more about the scale of the problem and how to improve identification of those eat risk of harm and interventions and actions that turn a pregnancy, with a potentially adverse outcome, into a healthy pregnancy outcome.
REC name
East Midlands - Nottingham 1 Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
21/EM/0203
Date of REC Opinion
6 Oct 2021
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion