Effects of cocaine use during pregnancy on low birthweight and preterm birth: systematic review and metaanalyses.
OBJECTIVE
To review systematically maternal antenatal cocaine exposure and adverse perinatal outcomes.


METHODS
Medline, Embase, CINAHL and secondary references in relevant studies were searched. English language studies of antenatal cocaine exposure and pregnancy outcomes published from 1966 to July 2009 were included. Metaanalyses were performed using the random effects model.


RESULTS
Thirty-one studies were included. Cocaine use during pregnancy was associated with significantly higher odds of preterm birth (odds ratio [OR], 3.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.72-4.21), low birthweight (OR, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.90-4.63), and small for gestational age infants (OR, 3.23; 95% CI, 2.43-4.30), as well as shorter gestational age at delivery (-1.47 week; 95% CI, -1.97 to -0.98 week) and reduced birthweight (-492 g; 95% CI, -562 to -421 g).


CONCLUSIONS
Prenatal cocaine exposure is significantly associated with preterm birth, low birthweight, and small for gestational age infants.
Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. katygouin@hotmail.com
Katy
K
Gouin
Kellie
K
Murphy
Prakesh S
PS
Shah
D001724:Birth Weight; D003042:Cocaine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000150:complications; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007236:Infant, Small for Gestational Age; D009294:Narcotics / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011247:Pregnancy; D047928:Premature Birth; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects
D009294:Narcotics; D003042:Cocaine