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Neurological handicaps among children whose mothers smoked during pregnancy
1Department of Public Health Science, University of Oulu, Finland.
Insights
Maternal smoking during pregnancy was linked to higher rates of neurological handicaps in children, though not statistically significant. However, children of smokers experienced more perinatal issues and increased mortality by age 14.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurology
- Public Health
Background:
- Maternal smoking during pregnancy is a known risk factor for adverse child health outcomes.
- Understanding the long-term neurological impact of prenatal smoke exposure is crucial for preventative strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and the incidence of neurological handicaps in offspring.
- To compare neurological outcomes and mortality rates in children born to smokers versus non-smokers.
Main Methods:
- A cohort study comparing children born to mothers who smoked during pregnancy (N=1,819) with control children.
- Data collected on neurological handicaps including mental retardation, cerebral palsy, and epilepsy up to age 14.
- Analysis of perinatal conditions and mortality rates.
Main Results:
- While higher numbers of neurological handicaps were observed in children of smokers (78 vs. 62), the difference was not statistically significant.
- Children exposed to maternal smoking had significantly more perinatal diseases and conditions linked to neurological sequelae.
- Mortality rates up to age 14 were statistically significantly higher among children born to smokers.
Conclusions:
- Prenatal exposure to maternal smoking may increase the risk of perinatal complications and mortality in children.
- Despite observed trends, the study did not find a statistically significant increase in diagnosed neurological handicaps directly attributable to maternal smoking.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex relationship between maternal smoking and long-term child neurological development.
Abstract:
Neurological handicaps among children up to age 14 whose mothers had smoked during pregnancy (N = 1,819) and control children born in Northern Finland in 1966 were studied. Altogether, 78 children of smokers and 62 controls had mental retardation (IQ less than 85), cerebral palsy, and/or epilepsy, either current or past. Neither the number of handicapped children nor the numbers of the various handicaps differed significantly with respect to maternal smoking, although the figures were higher among smokers. The children of the smokers had perinatal diseases and conditions known to cause long-term neurological sequelae significantly more often, but the actual number of such cases did not increase. Mortality up to the age of 14 years was statistically significant among children born to smokers.