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Researchers: Cigarette Smoking Boosts Risks To Pregnant Women And Their Babies
| Author: Tony Cappasso |
| Article Date: 3/2/2008 |
Researchers at the University of Nottingham, England, have concluded that smoking during pregnancy increases a woman’s risk of pre-eclampsia, a condition characterized by increased blood pressure and problems with fluid retention. Pre-eclampsia is also responsible for the deaths of hundreds of babies in the UK. The condition also affects pregnancies in the U.S.
But the experts also found that quitting smoking while during a pregnancy significantly reduced those risks.
Fiona Broughton Pipkin, Professor of Perinatal Physiology at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the School of Human Development, said: “Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are the second most frequent cause of death in pregnancy in this country and cause an estimated 70,000 deaths worldwide among pregnant women each year. In 2005 742 babies died as a direct result of pregnancy hypertension in England and Wales. Ten times this number are delivered prematurely for the same reason. They risk short-term breathing problems, potential brain damage and long-term cardiovascular disease. The deaths are the tip of an iceberg for hospital admissions and worry for mothers, babies and families.”
Professor Broughton Pipkin led a multicenter cohort study of 1001 white Western European women with moderate to severe pre-eclampsia and their babies. It found that smokers in this group are even more likely to deliver prematurely (before 34 weeks), produce much lower birth weight babies, or have babies with adverse outcomes than women who don't smoke. Smokers were also five times more likely to develop eclampsia.
Analysis of study results revealed that:
Professor Broughton Pipkin said: “I feel very strongly that pregnant women should be encouraged as actively as possible to stop smoking, and this paper provides yet more reasons why.”
Smoking during pregnancy is recognized as a major public health problem. Around 30 per cent of pregnant women smoke and researchers say it can cause significant health problems in the unborn child. It accounts for around 4000 fetal deaths (including miscarriages) every year and it can lead to premature births, low birth weight, crib death and asthma. It is also associated with attention deficit and learning problems in childhood.
But the experts also found that quitting smoking while during a pregnancy significantly reduced those risks.
Fiona Broughton Pipkin, Professor of Perinatal Physiology at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology in the School of Human Development, said: “Pre-eclampsia and eclampsia are the second most frequent cause of death in pregnancy in this country and cause an estimated 70,000 deaths worldwide among pregnant women each year. In 2005 742 babies died as a direct result of pregnancy hypertension in England and Wales. Ten times this number are delivered prematurely for the same reason. They risk short-term breathing problems, potential brain damage and long-term cardiovascular disease. The deaths are the tip of an iceberg for hospital admissions and worry for mothers, babies and families.”
Professor Broughton Pipkin led a multicenter cohort study of 1001 white Western European women with moderate to severe pre-eclampsia and their babies. It found that smokers in this group are even more likely to deliver prematurely (before 34 weeks), produce much lower birth weight babies, or have babies with adverse outcomes than women who don't smoke. Smokers were also five times more likely to develop eclampsia.
Analysis of study results revealed that:
- 34.8 per cent who smoked delivered before 34 weeks — compared with 26.8 per cent of former smokers and 21.3 per cent of non-smokers.
- 46.1 per cent who smoked had low birth weight babies — compared with 37.5 per cent of former smokers and 27.9 per cent or non-smokers.
- 65.6 per cent of study participants who smoked delivered babies who experienced adverse outcomes — compared with 60 per cent of former smokers and 50.4 per cent of non–smokers.
Professor Broughton Pipkin said: “I feel very strongly that pregnant women should be encouraged as actively as possible to stop smoking, and this paper provides yet more reasons why.”
Smoking during pregnancy is recognized as a major public health problem. Around 30 per cent of pregnant women smoke and researchers say it can cause significant health problems in the unborn child. It accounts for around 4000 fetal deaths (including miscarriages) every year and it can lead to premature births, low birth weight, crib death and asthma. It is also associated with attention deficit and learning problems in childhood.