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A Canadian Tertiary Care Centre Study of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Cotinine Levels as Markers of Smoking During Pregnancy: Relationship to Neonatal Effects

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Abstract

This study describes the prevalence of smoking among 3,220 pregnant women. Maternal and umbilical cord cotinine levels were compared with the women’s self-reported cigarette consumption, infant birth weight and antepartum and perinatal complications. Of the women who reported themselves as being active smokers (23%), 76% had a partner who smoked, and 38% reported exposure to environmental smoke in the workplace. Only 15% of nonsmokers had a partner who smoked, and 13% reported workplace exposure. The mean number of cigarettes/day was 20.5 (95% CI 19.6-21.4). The relative risk of having a small-for-gestational-age infant was significantly higher in smokers for mothers of both preterm (34-36 wks, RR= 3.38, 95% CI 1.25 - 9.16) and term babies (>- 37wks, RR= 2.04, 95% CI 1.58 - 2.63). Mean infant birth weight was 207 g lighter in the infants of smokers (p<0.001) and was inversely correlated to maternal serum cotinine level. Birth weight dropped by 0.99 g for every 1 ug/L increase in cotinine (r =-0.19, p<0.01).

Abrégé

Cette étude décrit la prévalence du tabagisme durant la grossesse, auprès de 3 220 Canadiennes. Les taux sanguins de cotinine de la mère et du cordon ombilical ont été comparés à la consommation de cigarettes déclarés par les participantes, au poids des nourrissons à la naissance et aux complications périnatales et postnatales. Parmi celles qui avouaient fumer activement (23 %), 76 % avaient un conjoint fumeur et 38 % étaient exposées à la fumée dans leur milieu de travail. Seulement 15 % des non fumeuses cohabitaient avec un fumeur, et 13 % rapportèrent être exposées à la fumée dans leur milieu de travail. La consommation moyenne s’élevait à 20,5 cigarettes/jour (95 % IC; 19,6 - 21,4). Le risque relatif de donner naissance à un bébé de petit poids prématuré (34-36 semaines; RR = 3,38; 95 % IC 1,25 - 9,16) ou à terme (>- 37 semaines; RR = 2,04; 95 % IC 1,58 - 2.63) était significative-ment plus élevé chez les fumeuses. Le poids moyen des nourrissons à la naissance issus de mères fumeuses était de 207 g inférieur à celui des nourrissons de mères non fumeuses (p<0,001), et était inversement proportionnel aux taux sanguins maternels de cotinine. En fait, le poids des nourrissons à la naissance diminuait de 0,99 g pour chaque augmentation de 1 μg/L de cotinine sanguin chez la mère (r = - 0,19; p<0,01).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Canada

    Sherry L. Perkins PhD & John F. Livesey BSc

  2. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ottawa Civic Hospital, Canada

    Judy M. Belcher PHN

  3. Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Ottawa, Canada

    Sherry L. Perkins PhD

Authors
  1. Sherry L. Perkins PhD
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  2. Judy M. Belcher PHN
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  3. John F. Livesey BSc
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Correspondence to Sherry L. Perkins PhD.

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Perkins, S.L., Belcher, J.M. & Livesey, J.F. A Canadian Tertiary Care Centre Study of Maternal and Umbilical Cord Cotinine Levels as Markers of Smoking During Pregnancy: Relationship to Neonatal Effects. Can J Public Health 88, 232–237 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404788

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03404788

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