Saliva cotinine as indicator of cigarette smoking in pregnant women.
OBJECTIVE
To assess use of saliva cotinine as a quantitative objective index of smoking in pregnant women.


METHODS
National survey using quota sampling of pregnant women in England. Face-to-face interviews were conducted in the respondents' own homes.


METHODS
Respondents' homes.


METHODS
N = 1009 pregnant women, mean age = 27.9 years.


METHODS
Saliva cotinine and current smoking status.


RESULTS
Saliva cotinines revealed under-reporting among pregnant women by about 3%.


CONCLUSIONS
Pregnant women under-report current smoking status. The optimal cut-off point for validating smoking status among this group requires further research. The results also highlight the need for an improved understanding of the effects of pregnancy on the metabolism of nicotine.
Owen
L
L
Heatlth Education Authority, London, UK. lesley.owen@hda-online.org.uk
McNeill
A
A
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D003367:Cotinine / Q000032:analysis*; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D015995:Prevalence; D012463:Saliva / Q000737:chemistry*; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000378:metabolism*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention
D015415:Biomarkers; D003367:Cotinine