A large international study led by University of Adelaide researchers
has found that women who use marijuana can more than double the risk of
giving birth to a baby prematurely.
Preterm or premature birth -
at least three weeks before a baby's due date - can result in serious
and life-threatening health problems for the baby, and an increased risk
of health problems in later life, such as heart disease and diabetes.
A
study of more than 3,000 pregnant women in Adelaide, Australia and
Auckland, New Zealand has detailed the most common risk factors for
preterm birth. The results have been published online today in the
journal PLoS ONE.
The research team, led by Professor Gus Dekker
from the University of Adelaide's Robinson Institute and the Lyell
McEwin Hospital, found that the greatest risks for spontaneous preterm
birth included:
* Strong family history of low birth weight babies (almost six times the risk);
* Use of marijuana prior to pregnancy (more than double the risk);
* Having a mother with a history of pre-eclampsia (more than double the risk);
* Having a history of vaginal bleeds (more than double the risk);
* Having a mother with diabetes type 1 or 2 (more than double the risk).
The team also found that the greatest risk factors involved in the preterm rupture of membranes leading to birth included:
* Mild hypertension not requiring treatment (almost 10 times the risk);
* Family history of recurrent gestational diabetes (eight times the risk);
* Receiving some forms of hormonal fertility treatment (almost four times the risk);
* Having a body mass index of less than 20 (more than double the risk).
"Our
study has found that the risk factors for both forms of preterm birth
vary greatly, with a wide variety of health conditions and histories
impacting on preterm birth," says Professor Dekker, who is the lead
author of the study.
"Better understanding the risk factors
involved in preterm birth moves us another step forward in potentially
developing a test - genetic or otherwise - that will help us to predict
with greater accuracy the risk of preterm birth. Our ultimate aim is to
safeguard the lives of babies and their health in the longer term," he
says.
This study has been funded by the Premier’s Science and
Research Fund (South Australian Government) and the New Enterprise
Research Fund, Auckland NZ.
This article was first published at www.newswise.com