Pre- and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke and respiratory outcomes during the first year

Abstract

The different role of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobaccosmoke in respiratory outcomes in infants has not yet been clearly established.Our objective is to assess the effects of these exposures on the risk ofrespiratory outcomes during the first year of life of infants from a Spanishmulticenter cohort study. A total of 2506 wom en were monitored untildelivery. About 2039 infants made up the final population. The outcomes werecaused by the occurrence of the following: otitis, cough persisting for morethan 3 weeks, lower respiratory tract symptoms (wheezing or chestiness), andlower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis, bron chiolitis, or pneumonia).The relationship between prenatal and postnatal exposure and healthoutcomes was explored using logistic regression analys is. Maternal smokingduring pregnancy increased the odds for wheezing (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.99 –2.01) and chestiness (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03–2.01). Postnatal exposure fromfathers was associated with otitis (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01–1.54). Passiveexposure at work of non-smoking mothers during pregnancy was related tocough (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.05–2.51). Exposu re to tobacco smoke was relatedto a higher risk of experiencing respiratory outcomes in young infants.Prenatal exposure was that most clearly associated with the respiratory outcomes analyzed.