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.
Tsukamoto
Hiroko
H
Department of Developmental Medical Sciences, Institute of International Health, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan.
Fukuoka
Hideoki
H
Koyasu
Mieko
M
Nagai
Yasushi
Y
Takimoto
Hidemi
H
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