Smoking and pregnancy outcomes in a large community cohort

Background: Smoking during pregnancy has long been associated with adverse outcomes. Tobacco’s influence on vascular function can result in maternal disease, such as hypertension, and has a more pronounced effect on the placenta. Placental dysfunction from tobacco smoking can manifest as impaired fetal growth, abnormal placentation and abruption. Tobacco use has also been associated with preterm birth. Some evidence suggests that effects of smoking can be diminished or enhanced by genetic influences of ancestry, disease and drug response.

Objective: Assess the effects of smoking status on pregnancy outcomes by evaluating family history, race and ethnicity, maternal age, and genomic correlations

Results: A cohort of over 1800 family trios recruited was into three studies exploring genomic correlations to pregnancy outcome and child health. From this cohort, a sample of women who self reported smoking currently or quitting smoking some time in her life was matched with sample that reported never having smoked (n=166). Women were matched by smoking status for the following parameters: age at time of delivery, race, ethnicity, and birth gestational age. Family history, maternal and newborn care, medications and factors related to adverse birth outcomes were reviewed. While almost 17% reported smoking at some time, smoking was not associated with preterm birth. Associations were explored between smoking and other perinatal risk factors such as intrauterine growth, placentation, and hypertension.

Conclusions: We continue to analyze for influences of race, ethnicity, age and family history and smoking on genetics and birth outcomes, including possible influence of second hand smoke.