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Central and autonomic system signs with in utero drug exposure

H S Bada1, C R Bauer, S Shankaran

  • 1University of Kentucky, Department of Pediatrics, Lexington, KY, USA.

Archives of Disease in Childhood. Fetal and Neonatal Edition
|August 24, 2002
PubMed

Insights

In utero exposure to cocaine or opiates increases the risk of central nervous system/autonomic nervous system (CNS/ANS) signs in infants. Combined exposure to both substances showed additive effects on these outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Neonatal Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Prenatal exposure to substances like cocaine and opiates can impact infant neurodevelopment.
  • Understanding the specific risks associated with these exposures is crucial for early intervention and care.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the risk of central nervous system/autonomic nervous system (CNS/ANS) signs in infants following in utero exposure to cocaine and/or opiates.
  • To analyze the association between maternal substance use during pregnancy and specific neurological and autonomic outcomes in newborns.

Main Methods:

  • A multisite study enrolled 11,811 maternal/infant dyads.
  • Infant exposure was determined by maternal self-report or meconium testing, categorizing infants into cocaine (CO) only, opiates (OP) only, or combined (OP+CO) exposure groups.
  • Generalized estimating equations were used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for CNS/ANS outcomes, controlling for confounders.

Main Results:

  • The prevalence of CNS/ANS signs was highest in the OP+CO group (OR: 4.8).
  • Cocaine exposure (CO) was independently associated with an increased risk of CNS/ANS outcomes (OR: 1.7).
  • Opiate exposure (OP) also increased risk (OR: 2.8), and maternal smoking was associated with increased risk for these signs.

Conclusions:

  • In utero cocaine or opiate exposure significantly increases the risk for a constellation of CNS/ANS outcomes in infants.
  • The findings highlight the neurodevelopmental risks associated with prenatal substance exposure and the importance of identifying these exposures.
Abstract

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