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  • Original Article
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Does multiple gestation impact birthweight deficit from smoking?

Journal of Perinatology volume 34, pages 112–115 (2014)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Objective:

To test the hypothesis that the combined birthweight deficit from smoking in twin gestation is significantly greater than previously described for singletons.

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study of White/Black live-born twins, 32 to 40 weeks of gestation, 1990 to 2005, Kansas City, MO. Data were analyzed by t-test, χ2, linear and linear regression analyses.

Result:

The cohort comprised 1190 twin pairs, 58% Whites and 55% ⩾37 weeks. Smoking rate was 14.5% and similar by race (14.2% White vs 14.8%, P=0.772). The aggregate birthweight of twins of nonsmokers was greater, 5116 g ± 25 g vs 4870 g ± 59 g, P<0.001 (mean±s.d.) and the difference was 264 g (95% confidence interval, 156 to 372 g) after adjusting for other variables in linear regression analyses.

Conclusion:

Smoking-associated growth restriction in twins is quantitatively similar to that of singletons. This finding is suggestive of dissipation or a ceiling effect to the growth-restricting effect of cigarette smoking.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics/University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine, Kansas City, MO, USA

    F A Okah & A A Oshodi

  2. University of Missouri Kansas City School of Pharmacy, Kansas City, MO, USA

    Y Liu

  3. Health Department, Office of Epidemiology and Community Health Monitoring, Kansas City, MO, USA

    J Cai

Authors
  1. F A Okah
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  2. A A Oshodi
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  3. Y Liu
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  4. J Cai
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Correspondence to F A Okah.

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Okah, F., Oshodi, A., Liu, Y. et al. Does multiple gestation impact birthweight deficit from smoking?. J Perinatol 34, 112–115 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.148

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/jp.2013.148

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