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European Journal of Pediatrics

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01-11-2006 | Original Paper

Sex-specific differences in birth weight due to maternal smoking during pregnancy

Authors: M. Voigt, M. Hermanussen, U. Wittwer-Backofen, C. Fusch, V. Hesse

Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics | Issue 11/2006

Abstract

Introduction

We investigated the sex-specific risk of maternal smoking during pregnancy on the birth weight and the proportion of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) newborns in 888,632 (49.9%) of 1,815,318 singleton births (ca. 80% of all singleton births in Germany from 1995 to 1997) in whom data on maternal cigarette consumption were available.

Results and discussion

Newborns below the 10th percentile for weight and duration of pregnancy were classified SGA. Maternal smoking during pregnancy lowers the mean birth weight and increases the risk of SGA newborns. The negative effect depends on the daily number of cigarettes consumed, and is greater in girls than in boys. In non-smokers, 9.8% of the newborns were SGA, with a sex-ratio of females:males=1, but this percentage increased with increasing number of cigarettes consumed (p<0.001), as did the sex-ratio, i.e. the negative effect of smoking on growth was greater in girls than in boys. In mild smokers (1–5 cigarettes/day), the risk of giving birth to an SGA girl was 1.7275-fold (95% CI: 1.7266–1.7284) above normal, but was 1.7143-fold (95% CI: 1.7137–1.7150) in boys. More than 21 cigarettes/day increased the risk of SGA 3.15-fold for a boy, but 3.51-fold for a girl (p<0.001).

Conclusion

In conclusion, particularly in heavy smokers, the negative effect of maternal smoking during pregnancy on the mean birth weight and risk of SGA is significantly greater in newborn girls than in newborn boys.

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Title: Sex-specific differences in birth weight due to maternal smoking during pregnancy
Authors: M. Voigt
M. Hermanussen
U. Wittwer-Backofen
C. Fusch
V. Hesse
Publication date: 01-11-2006
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: European Journal of Pediatrics / Issue 11/2006
Print ISSN: 0340-6199
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1076
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-006-0169-1

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Sex-specific differences in birth weight due to maternal smoking during pregnancy

Abstract

Introduction

Results and discussion

Conclusion

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Introduction

Results and discussion

Conclusion

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