Growth up to 2 years in relationship to maternal smoking during pregnancy

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Obstetrics
• Public Health

Background:

• Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a known cause of intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR).
• The long-term growth trajectory of infants born with IUGR due to maternal smoking is not fully understood.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for public health interventions and pediatric care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the subsequent growth of children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy.
• To compare the growth parameters of infants exposed to different levels of maternal smoking with a control group.
• To assess the persistence and evolution of growth deficits over the first two years of life.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study involving 204 newborns of mothers who smoked during pregnancy and 204 control neonates.
• Anthropometric measurements (weight, length, head circumference) were taken at birth and at 1 and 2 years of age.
• Maternal smoking habits were categorized (e.g., <10 cigarettes/day vs. >=10 cigarettes/day).

Main Results:

• Newborns of mothers smoking >=10 cigarettes/day showed significant deficits in weight, length, and head circumference compared to controls.
• Infants born to mothers smoking <10 cigarettes/day had similar anthropometric parameters to controls at birth.
• At follow-up, weight retardation improved, but head circumference deficits remained stable, and length retardation worsened, even in children whose mothers smoked <10 cigarettes/day.

Conclusions:

• Maternal smoking during pregnancy, particularly heavy smoking, leads to significant newborn growth retardation.
• While some growth parameters like weight may improve postnatally, deficits in length and head circumference can persist or worsen.
• These findings highlight the lasting impact of prenatal smoke exposure on child development, necessitating targeted interventions.