Light drinking versus abstinence in pregnancy – behavioural and cognitive outcomes in 7‐year‐old children: a longitudinal cohort study. Issue 11 (17th April 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kelly, Y; Iacovou, M; Quigley, MA; Gray, R; Wolke, D; Kelly, J; Sacker, A
• Is Part Of: BJOG. Volume 120:Issue 11(2013:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1340
• Page End: 1347
• Publication Date: 2013-04-17
• Subjects: Obstetrics -- Periodicals; Gynecology -- Periodicals; 618
• DOI: 10.1111/1471-0528.12246
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1470-0328

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="bjo12246-abs-0001"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To assess whether light drinking in pregnancy is linked to unfavourable developmental outcomes in children.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Design</title> <p>Prospective population‐based cohort.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Setting</title> <p>UK.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Population</title> <p>Ten thousand five hundred and thirty‐four 7‐year‐olds.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>Quasi‐experimental using propensity score matching (PSM) to compare children born to light (up to 2 units per week) and non‐drinkers.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Main outcome measures</title> <p>Behavioural difficulties rated by parents and teachers; cognitive test scores for reading, maths and spatial skills.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0007" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and PSM analyses are presented. For behavioural difficulties, unadjusted estimates for percentage standard deviation (SD) score differences ranged from 2 to 14%. On adjustment for potential confounders, differences were attenuated, with a loss of statistical significance, except for teacher‐rated boys' difficulties. For boys, parent‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −11.5; OLS, −4.3; PSM, −6.8; teacher‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −13.9; OLS, −9.6; PSM, −10.8. For girls, parent‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −9.6; OLS, −2.9; PSM, −4.5; teacher‐rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, −2.4; OLS, 4.9; PSM, 3.9. For cognitive test scores, unadjusted estimates for differences ranged between 12 and 21% of an SD score for reading, maths and spatial skills. After adjustment for potential confounders, estimates were reduced, but remained statistically significantly different for reading and for spatial skills in boys. For boys, reading: unadjusted, 20.9; OLS, 8.3; PSM, 7.3; maths: unadjusted, 14.7; OLS, 5.0; PSM, 6.5; spatial skills: unadjusted, 16.2; OLS, 7.6; PSM, 8.1. For girls, reading: unadjusted, 11.6; OLS, −0.3; PSM, −0.5; maths: unadjusted, 12.9; OLS, 4.3; PSM, 3.9; spatial skills: unadjusted, 16.2; OLS, 7.7; PSM, 6.4.</p> </sec> <sec id="bjo12246-sec-0008" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>The findings suggest that light drinking during pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems in mid‐childhood. These findings support current UK Department of Health guidelines on drinking during pregnancy.</p> </sec> </abstract>