Association between incense burning and prenatal depressive symptoms: evidence from the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study

This study aimed to examine the association of incense burning alone, a source of indoor air pollution, and jointly with passive smoking, with prenatal depressive symptoms. Information on incense exposure and depressive symptoms were collected at both early and late pregnancy using questionnaires in the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study. Mixed-effects logistic regression models were used to assess the associations of incense exposure separately, and together with passive smoking, with prenatal depressive symptoms. Compared to the non-users, pregnant women with household incense burning had higher odds of depressive symptoms (odds ratio (OR), 1.17, 95% CI, 1.06, 1.28). Compared with non-users, women who occasionally (OR, 1.22, 95% CI, 1.09, 1.36) and frequently (1.51, 95% CI, 1.26, 1.80) smelled incense had higher odds of prenatal depressive symptoms. Higher duration of incense smelling was associated with higher odds of prenatal depressive symptoms compared with non-users. There was no strong evidence for an interaction of frequency of incense smelling and passive smoking in prenatal depressive symptoms. Prenatal exposure to incense burning was associated with higher odds of having depressive symptoms during pregnancy, and there is no evidence for interaction with concurrent exposure to passive smoking.

Automated summary

This study examined the association between incense burning, a source of indoor air pollution, and prenatal depressive symptoms, both alone and in combination with passive smoking. Data was collected using questionnaires in the Born in Guangzhou Cohort Study, and mixed-effects logistic regression models were utilized for analysis. The results showed that pregnant women exposed to household incense burning had higher odds of depressive symptoms compared to non-users. Additionally, both occasional and frequent exposure to the smell of incense were associated with increased odds of prenatal depressive symptoms. Higher duration of incense exposure was also linked to greater odds of experiencing depressive symptoms during pregnancy. No significant evidence of interaction between incense exposure and passive smoking was found.