title: Risk factors for small-for-gestational-age birth in a preterm population.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to discovery any distinct risk factors for small-for-gestational-age birth among premature infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic and obstetric risk factors were compared for 136 small-for-gestational-age prematures and 636 appropriate-for-gestational-age premature infants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Three significant risk factors for growth retardation among premature infants were found: black maternal race (odds ratio 2.2; 95% confidence interval (1.4 to 3.5); maternal toxemia (odds ratio 3.2; 95% confidence interval 1.7 to 6.1); and either low maternal weight gain (odds ratio 4.0; 95% confidence interval 1.8 to 8.8) or missing information on maternal weight gain, which could be a marker for late or no prenatal care (odds ratio 4.9; 95% confidence interval 1.9 to 12.6). Maternal smoking rates were similar in the small- and appropriate-for-gestational-age groups (42% and 43%, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Toxemia, weight gain, and race are likely risk factors for small-for-gestational-age birth in both preterm and term populations; within the already high-risk domain of prematurity, maternal smoking did not appear to confer added risk for small-for-gestational-age birth.
authors.affiliation: Epidemiology and Biostatistics Section, Boston University School of Public Health, MA 02118.
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lieberman
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D011225:Pre-Eclampsia; D011247:Pregnancy; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D015430:Weight Gain