Periconceptional factors affect the risk of neural tube defects in offspring: a hospital-based case-control study in China.
OBJECTIVE
To explore the periconceptional factors affecting the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs), we carried out a hospital-based case-control study in China.


METHODS
A 1:1 matched case-control study was conducted. With self-designed questionnaires, we solicited relevant information from 459 case mothers and 459 control mothers selected in two provinces of China through face-to-face interviews. Univariate and multivariate conditional logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the effect values by odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) with SAS9.1.3.software.


RESULTS
Daily passive tobacco smoke exposure was a risk factor for total NTDs (OR = 8.688, 95%CI = 2.329-32.404). Diet adjustment in the first trimester (OR = 0.061, 95%CI = 0.014-0.274), periconceptional folic acid intake (OR = 0.059, 95%CI = 0.011-0.321) and health education (OR = 0.251, 95%CI = 0.081-0.781) were protective factors for total NTDs. Differences in factors and their effects on NTDs were found for the three subtypes of NTDs: anencephaly, spina bifida and encephalocele.


CONCLUSIONS
Daily passive tobacco smoke exposure, diet adjustment in the first trimester, periconceptional folic acid intake and health education were associated with NTDs.
Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China.
Meng
M
Wang
Zhi-Ping
ZP
Wang
Li-Jie
LJ
Gao
Rui
R
Gong
Meng
M
Zhang
Qing-Bin
QB
Lu
Zhong-Tang
ZT
Zhao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005306:Fertilization / Q000502:physiology*; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006771:Hospitals, Maternity / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D018811:Maternal Exposure; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
D005492:Folic Acid