Parenteral Pethidine for labour pain relief and substance use disorder: 20-year follow-up cohort study in offspring.
OBJECTIVE
To determine whether use of intrapartum Pethidine pain analgesia increases the risk for substance use disorder in adult offspring.


METHODS
Analysis of data from a cohort study.


METHODS
Academic hospital in Leiden, the Netherlands.


METHODS
133 cases and 164 control individuals, aged 18-20 years at follow-up.


METHODS
Incidence of substance use disorder or use of alcohol and tobacco.


RESULTS
The lifetime use of addictive substances in children exposed to intrapartum Pethidine analgesia was 45% of 133 children versus 48% of 164 not-exposed subjects (adjusted OR=0.79, 95% CI 0.48 to 1.29). Recent use of alcohol, tobacco and hard drugs showed no statistical difference either.


CONCLUSIONS
Pethidine for labour pain medication appears not to be associated with substance misuse or smoking in later life.
Department of Paediatrics, Maasstadziekenhuis, Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Robert Rodrigues
RR
Pereira
Humphrey
H
Kanhai
Frits
F
Rosendaal
Paula
P
van Dommelen
Dick
D
Swaab
Erik
E
Rodrigues Pereira
Ben
B
van de Wetering