Risk factors for small for gestational age.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of the paper was to determine the risk factors for small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants at full term, in Japan.


METHODS
The study was conducted at four hospitals and clinics in the Tokyo metropolitan area. A retrospective review of 2972 mothers and their infants born from singleton pregnancies at any time during the years 2002 and 2003 was conducted.


RESULTS
Of these women, 8.4% gave birth to SGA infants. The proportion of SGA infants was significantly higher among heavy smokers (>10 cigarettes/day; 13.7%, P < 0.01). The odds ratio (OR) for SGA decreased significantly in proportion to the pregnancy body mass index (OR, 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.84-0.94, P < 0.001). The OR of SGA for stratified maternal weight gain was 1.79 (95%CI: 1.24-2.58, P </= 0.01) for weight gain < 8.0 kg; 1.16 (95%CI: 0.79-1.71, P = 0.45) for weight gain 8.0-10.0 kg; and 0.49 (95%CI: 0.3-0.78, P < 0.01) for weight gain >12 kg.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study clearly confirms the detrimental effect of a low prepregnancy body mass index, low maternal weight gain and maternal smoking during pregnancy on the incidence of SGA infants.
Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Institute of International Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Hiroko
H
Tsukamoto
Hideoki
H
Fukuoka
Mieko
M
Koyasu
Yasushi
Y
Nagai
Hidemi
H
Takimoto
D015992:Body Mass Index; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D007564:Japan; D016015:Logistic Models; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013851:Thinness / Q000150:complications*; D015430:Weight Gain