Research article summary (published 27 Feb 1993):

The impact on infant birth weight and gestational age of cotinine-validated smoking reduction during pregnancy.

Full Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To evaluate the impact of cotinine-confirmed smoking reduction during pregnancy on infant birth weight and gestational age at birth. DESIGN--Group analyses from a prospective, randomized smoking-cessation intervention trial using cotinine levels to assess smoking cessation and reduction. SETTING--Four maternity clinics of Jefferson County Health Department in Birmingham, Ala. PATIENTS--A total of 803 pregnant smokers and 474 never smokers with a fetal gestational age of 32 weeks or less at the first prenatal visit to a clinic. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Infant birth weight and gestational age at birth. RESULTS--Infants who were born to women who quit smoking (quitters) had the highest mean birth weight (3371 +/- 581 g), followed by infants who were born to women who did not change smoking behavior (no changers) (3043 +/- 587 g). The mean infant birth weight of infants born to the quitters, adjusted by mother's age, race, height, weight at baseline, and gestational age at delivery was 241 g heavier than that among the no changers (P = .0008) and 167 g heavier than the reducers (P = .04). The adjusted mean infant birth weight of infants born to the reducers was 92 g heavier than that among the no changers (P = .08). White reducers with baseline cotinine levels greater than 100 ng/mL had infants who were 241 g heavier than did white no changers. A 220-g difference was also seen in black reducers with a baseline cotinine level of 100 ng/mL or less. Although smoking cessation increased infant gestational age at delivery by 1 week, smoking reduction had little effect. CONCLUSION--Cotinine-validated smoking reduction rates were positively associated with an increase in infant birth weight. While smoking cessation must continue to be the primary objective for pregnant smokers, specific intervention methods should also be directed toward smoking reduction for women who cannot quit.

Author information

Author/s: Li, C Q (CQ); Windsor, R A (RA); Perkins, L (L); Goldenberg, R L (RL); Lowe, J B (JB);

Affiliation: Office of Educational Research and Development, School of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham 35294-2041.

Grants: 5R01CA41648-05 (Agency:NCI NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Clinical Trial; Journal Article; Randomized Controlled Trial; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), published in UNITED STATES. (Language: eng)

Reference: -1993 Mar 24-31; vol 269 (issue 12) : pp 1519-24

Dates: Created 1993/04/05; Completed 1993/04/05; Revised 2007/11/14;

PMID: 8445814, status: MEDLINE (last retrieved date: 2/18/2009)

Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.

Comments and Corrections

CommentIn: JAMA. 1993 Aug 4;270(5):579. (PMID: 8331754)

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MeSH headings (categories)

This article was linked to the MeSH Headings (categories) shown below.

Biological Markers Birth Weight Cotinine - analysis Female Gestational Age Humans

Humans Pregnancy Pregnancy Outcome Prospective Studies Smoking - metabolism Smoking Cessation

Note: Bold headings indicate primary MeSH headings or qualifiers.

Associated Chemicals: Biological Markers (0) ; Cotinine (486-56-6)

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