Does alcohol increase the risk of preterm delivery?

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Public Health
• Reproductive Medicine

Background:

• Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is a significant public health concern.
• Preterm delivery is a leading cause of neonatal morbidity and mortality.
• Understanding the relationship between maternal alcohol intake and delivery timing is crucial for prenatal care guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the association between alcohol intake during pregnancy and the risk of preterm delivery.
• To quantify the risk ratio of preterm delivery across different levels of weekly alcohol consumption.
• To identify potential thresholds of alcohol intake that pose a significant risk.

Main Methods:

• Prospective cohort study including 18,228 singleton pregnancies at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark.
• Data collected via self-administered questionnaires and hospital files on alcohol intake at 16 and 30 weeks gestation.
• Statistical analysis using risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI), adjusted for multiple confounding factors.

Main Results:

• Consuming 10 or more drinks per week at 16 weeks gestation was associated with a significantly increased risk ratio (RR) of 2.93 (95% CI = 1.52-5.63) for preterm delivery.
• At 30 weeks gestation, 10 or more drinks per week showed an even higher RR of 3.56 (95% CI = 1.78-7.13).
• Adjustments for lifestyle, maternal, and obstetrical factors did not alter these findings, and restricting the highest intake group confirmed the elevated risk.

Conclusions:

• High levels of alcohol consumption during pregnancy are strongly associated with an increased risk of preterm delivery.
• Even moderate-to-high intake (e.g., 10-14 drinks/week) significantly elevates preterm delivery risk.
• These findings underscore the importance of advising pregnant individuals to limit or abstain from alcohol to reduce adverse pregnancy outcomes.