Associations Between Maternal Periconceptional Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Craniosynostosis Among Offspring,...

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Health
• Pediatric Health
• Birth Defects Research

Background:

• Previous research on maternal alcohol use and craniosynostosis yielded inconclusive or inverse associations.
• The National Birth Defects Prevention Study (NBDPS) provides a robust dataset for investigating environmental influences on birth defects.

Purpose of the Study:

• To re-examine the relationship between maternal alcohol consumption during the periconceptional period and the risk of craniosynostosis.
• To update previous analyses using expanded NBDPS data.

Main Methods:

• A multi-site, population-based case-control study (NBDPS) involving mothers of craniosynostosis cases and controls.
• Telephone interviews collected data on self-reported periconceptional alcohol consumption (1 month before conception to 3 months gestation).
• Logistic regression and probabilistic bias analysis were used to assess associations and account for potential reporting biases.

Main Results:

• Analysis included 1435 case mothers and 11,216 control mothers.
• Periconceptional alcohol consumption rates were similar between case (36.9%) and control (38.2%) groups.
• No statistically significant association was found between any or binge alcohol consumption and craniosynostosis, with estimates near or below 1.0 and confidence intervals including the null value. Bias-adjusted estimates also supported null findings.

Conclusions:

• Maternal periconceptional alcohol consumption showed primarily null associations with craniosynostosis.
• Despite null findings, current clinical recommendations for alcohol abstinence during pregnancy remain valid.