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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
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Published on: August 25, 2014

Smoking in pregnancy: a risk factor for adverse neurodevelopmental outcome in preterm infants?

U Kiechl-Kohlendorfer1, E Ralser, U Pupp Peglow

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Division of Neonatology, Neuropaediatrics and Metabolic Disorders, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria. ursula.kohlendorfer@i-med.ac.at

Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|February 25, 2010
PubMed

Insights

Smoking during pregnancy is linked to poorer neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation. Reducing smoking in pregnancy is crucial for improving infant development.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatal Medicine
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Preterm infants born before 32 weeks gestation are at high risk for neurodevelopmental delays.
  • Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a known risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between smoking in pregnancy and neurodevelopmental outcomes at 2 years of age in preterm infants.
  • To identify risk factors for delayed development in this vulnerable population.

Main Methods:

  • Prospective enrollment of 181 preterm infants (gestational age <32 weeks).
  • Follow-up assessment at 2 years using Bayley Scales of Infant Development II.
  • Logistic regression analysis to identify risk factors for delayed motor or mental development (developmental index <85).

Main Results:

  • Smoking in pregnancy, low gestational age, low birth weight, small for gestational age, chronic lung disease, intracerebral hemorrhage, periventricular leucomalacia, and retinopathy of prematurity were associated with increased risk of delayed development.
  • Smoking in pregnancy, small for gestational age, and chronic lung disease remained significant predictors in multivariable analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Smoking during pregnancy is a significant predictor of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in preterm infants.
  • Strategies to reduce smoking in pregnancy should be strongly promoted to improve infant neurodevelopmental trajectories.
Abstract

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