[Does alcohol increase the risk of preterm delivery?].
BACKGROUND
The aim was to assess the association between alcohol intake during pregnancy and preterm delivery.


METHODS
Women attending routine antenatal care at Aarhus University Hospital, Denmark, from 1989-1991 and 1992-1996 were eligible for the study. Our analyses included 18,228 singleton pregnancies. We obtained prospective information on alcohol intake at about 16 and 30 weeks of gestation, other lifestyle factors, maternal characteristics, and obstetrical risk factors from questionnaires completed by the women and hospital files.


RESULTS
For women with an alcohol intake of 1-2, 3-4, 5-9, and > or = 10 drinks/week, the risk ratio (RR) of preterm delivery was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.76-1.08), 0.86 (0.64-1.15), 0.89 (0.52-1.52), and 2.93 (1.52-5.63) respectively, compared with an intake of < 1 drink/week at about 16 weeks of gestation, and 0.69 (0.56-0.86), 0.82 (0.60-1.13), 0.97 (0.58-1.64), and 3.56 (1.78-7.13) at about 30 weeks. Adjustment for smoking habits, caffeine intake, age, height, prepregnant weight, marital status, occupational status, education, parity, chronic diseases, previous preterm delivery, mode of initiation of labour, and sex of the child did not alter the conclusions, nor did restriction of the highest intake group to women drinking 10-14 drinks/week (RR = 3.41 (1.71-6.81) at 16 weeks and RR = 3.47 (1.64-7.35) at 30 weeks).


CONCLUSIONS
The association between alcohol intake and preterm delivery appeared to be J-shaped, with a threshold for adverse effect at a level of about 10-14 drinks/week.
Kesmodel
U
U
Arhus Universitetshospital, Skejby Sygehus, Perinatal Epidemiologisk Forskningsenhed, gynaekologisk-obstetrisk afdeling Y. skejuk@au.dk
Olsen
S F
SF
Secher
N J
NJ
D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
Øger alkohol risikoen for praeterm fodsel?