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Low birthweight, preterm births and intrauterine growth retardation in relation to maternal smoking
Author(s) -
Horta Bernard Lessa,
Victora Cesar Gomes,
Menezes Ana Maria,
Halpern Ricardo,
Barros Fernando C.
Publication year - 1997
Publication title -
paediatric and perinatal epidemiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.667
H-Index - 88
eISSN - 1365-3016
pISSN - 0269-5022
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3016.1997.d01-17.x
Subject(s) - medicine , obstetrics , growth retardation , pregnancy , biology , genetics
The association between the intensity and duration of cigarette smoking during pregnancy and the frequency of low birthweight, preterm births and intrauterine growth retardation was investigated in a historical cohort. All 5166 livebirths occurring in the city of Pelotas, Brazil, during 1993 were identified and mothers interviewed soon after delivery. Children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy had a birthweight 142 g lower than those of non‐smoking mothers. The odds ratio for low birthweight among children of smokers was 1.59 [95% CI 1.30–1.95]. There was no association between smoking and preterm delivery assessed by the Dubowitz score. In relation to intrauterine growth retardation, smoking was associated with an odds ratio of 2.07 [95% CI 1.69–2.53]. There was a direct dose–response association between the number of cigarettes smoked and the risk of growth retardation. Women whose partner smoked were also at higher risk of having a child with growth retardation. All the above results were adjusted for confounding factors. The effect of maternal smoking on low birthweight seems to be attributable to intrauterine growth retardation rather than preterm delivery.