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Offspring birth weight in second-generation 'small for gestational age' infants
Antonio Farina1, Benedetta Dini, Mara Mattioli
1Division of Prenatal Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna 40126, Italy. antonio.farina@unibo.it
Prenatal Diagnosis
|May 29, 2010
Summary
Mothers who were small for gestational age (SGA) at birth are more likely to have babies who are also SGA. This study quantifies the intergenerational risk of reduced intrauterine growth.
Area of Science:
- Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Neonatology
- Pediatric Growth and Development
Background:
- Maternal small for gestational age (SGA) status may influence fetal growth in subsequent generations.
- Understanding intergenerational effects on intrauterine growth is crucial for perinatal health.
- Previous research has explored various risk factors for SGA, but intergenerational links require further quantification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the extent to which maternal history of being small for gestational age (SGA) impacts the risk of SGA in their offspring.
- To quantify the intergenerational transmission of impaired intrauterine growth.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case-control study involving 707 infants born between January and March 2009.
- Infants were classified as SGA based on gestational age-stratified percentiles.
- Logistic regression analysis identified risk factors, including maternal SGA history and smoking.
Main Results:
- 28.6% of infants born to mothers who were SGA were themselves SGA, compared to 8.6% of infants born to non-SGA mothers (p<0.01).
- Maternal SGA history was associated with an increased odds ratio of 2.61 (95% CI = 1.16-5.86) for having an SGA infant.
- The additional risk for an infant to be SGA when the mother was also SGA was approximately 7%.
Conclusions:
- Maternal history of small for gestational age (SGA) is a significant risk factor for offspring SGA.
- Reduced intrauterine growth exhibits intergenerational transmission.
- This finding highlights the importance of considering maternal growth history in perinatal risk assessment.
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