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Assessment and Evaluation of the High Risk Neonate: The NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale
Published on: August 25, 2014
Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy and infantile neurodevelopment.
Bo-Eun Lee1, Yun-Chul Hong, Hyesook Park
1Department of Preventive Medicine and Medical Research Institute, School of Medicine, Ewha Womans University, 911-1 Mok-6-Dong, Yangcheon-Gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
Environmental Research
|March 15, 2011
Summary
Secondhand smoke exposure during pregnancy negatively impacts infant neurodevelopment. Prenatal exposure is linked to lower mental scores and increased risk of developmental delay in 6-month-old infants.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics
- Toxicology
Background:
- The developing nervous system is vulnerable to environmental toxins.
- Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a common environmental exposure.
- Prenatal and postnatal SHS exposure effects on infant neurodevelopment require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the impact of prenatal and postnatal SHS exposure on neurodevelopment in 6-month-old infants.
- To determine the association between SHS exposure and infant developmental scores.
- To evaluate the risk of developmental delay associated with SHS exposure.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from 414 mother-infant pairs from the Mothers' and Children's Environmental Health study.
- Assessed prenatal and postnatal SHS exposure via maternal self-reports.
- Evaluated infant neurodevelopment at 6 months using the Bayley Scales of Infant Development by blinded examiners.
- Employed multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusting for confounders, to determine SHS exposure risks.
Main Results:
- Prenatal SHS exposure was associated with a decrease in the Mental Developmental Index (MDI) score.
- No significant association was found between prenatal SHS exposure and the Psychomotor Developmental Index (PDI) score.
- Prenatal SHS exposure significantly increased the risk of developmental delay (MDI ≤ 85) at 6 months of age.
- Postnatal SHS exposure did not show a significant association with MDI or PDI scores.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal exposure to secondhand smoke poses a risk to infant neurodevelopment.
- Infants born to non-smoking mothers exposed to SHS during pregnancy are at risk for neurodevelopmental delays.
- Findings highlight the importance of protecting pregnant women from environmental tobacco smoke exposure.
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