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[Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy and malformations]
M-P Cournot1, F Assari-Merabtene, C Vauzelle-Gardier
1Centre de Renseignements sur les Agents Tératogènes, Hôpital Armand-Trousseau, 26, avenue du Docteur-Netter, 75012 Paris.
Summary
Maternal smoking during pregnancy is not linked to a higher overall risk of birth defects. However, specific conditions like oral clefts and gastroschisis show a mild association with smoking.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Teratology
- Public Health
Context:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a significant public health concern.
- Despite awareness, smoking rates among women remain a challenge.
- Early embryonic development is vulnerable to environmental exposures like smoking.
Purpose:
- To review the scientific literature on the teratogenic effects of maternal smoking during pregnancy.
- To highlight methodological challenges in studying smoking and malformations.
- To assess the association between maternal smoking and the prevalence of congenital malformations.
Summary:
- The overall prevalence of malformations in offspring of mothers who smoked during pregnancy does not appear to be significantly increased.
- A mild but statistically significant association exists between maternal smoking and specific malformations, including oral clefts, gastroschisis, and craniosynostosis.
- While odds ratios are low, the high prevalence of smoking means these associations have important implications for absolute risk, particularly for facial clefts.
Impact:
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing maternal smoking for congenital anomaly prevention.
- Highlights the need for effective preconceptional counseling regarding smoking cessation.
- Informs public health strategies aimed at reducing smoking during pregnancy and its associated risks.