Maternal Prenatal Cannabis Use and Major Structural Birth Defects

Area of Science:

• Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Neonatal Health
• Public Health

Background:

• Prenatal substance use, including cannabis, is a growing concern.
• Understanding the impact of maternal cannabis use on fetal development is crucial for public health.
• Major structural birth defects require careful monitoring and analysis of potential contributing factors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between prenatal cannabis exposure and the occurrence of major structural birth defects.
• To quantify the risk of specific birth defects in infants exposed to cannabis during gestation.

Main Methods:

• A population-based retrospective cohort study included singleton births from January 2011 to July 2020.
• Prenatal cannabis use was identified through self-report or positive toxicology screening.
• Data from electronic health records and birth certificates were used to identify 38 major structural birth defects, analyzed using modified Poisson regression models adjusted for propensity scores.

Main Results:

• Maternal prenatal cannabis use was associated with an increased risk of gastroschisis (RR=2.00) and omphalocele (aRR=2.92 in propensity score adjusted model).
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for confounders, including other substance use and maternal age.
• No significant associations were found between prenatal cannabis use and other major structural birth defects.

Conclusions:

• Maternal prenatal cannabis use is associated with an increased risk for gastroschisis and omphalocele.
• Clinicians should counsel pregnant individuals about the potential risks of prenatal cannabis consumption.
• Further research may be warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying these associations.