title: Light drinking versus abstinence in pregnancy - behavioural and cognitive outcomes in 7-year-old children: a longitudinal cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess whether light drinking in pregnancy is linked to unfavourable developmental outcomes in children.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective population-based cohort.
  
  
  METHODS
  UK.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten thousand five hundred and thirty-four 7-year-olds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Quasi-experimental using propensity score matching (PSM) to compare children born to light (up to 2 units per week) and non-drinkers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Behavioural difficulties rated by parents and teachers; cognitive test scores for reading, maths and spatial skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and PSM analyses are presented. For behavioural difficulties, unadjusted estimates for percentage standard deviation (SD) score differences ranged from 2 to 14%. On adjustment for potential confounders, differences were attenuated, with a loss of statistical significance, except for teacher-rated boys' difficulties. For boys, parent-rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, -11.5; OLS, -4.3; PSM, -6.8; teacher-rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, -13.9; OLS, -9.6; PSM, -10.8. For girls, parent-rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, -9.6; OLS, -2.9; PSM, -4.5; teacher-rated behavioural difficulties: unadjusted, -2.4; OLS, 4.9; PSM, 3.9. For cognitive test scores, unadjusted estimates for differences ranged between 12 and 21% of an SD score for reading, maths and spatial skills. After adjustment for potential confounders, estimates were reduced, but remained statistically significantly different for reading and for spatial skills in boys. For boys, reading: unadjusted, 20.9; OLS, 8.3; PSM, 7.3; maths: unadjusted, 14.7; OLS, 5.0; PSM, 6.5; spatial skills: unadjusted, 16.2; OLS, 7.6; PSM, 8.1. For girls, reading: unadjusted, 11.6; OLS, -0.3; PSM, -0.5; maths: unadjusted, 12.9; OLS, 4.3; PSM, 3.9; spatial skills: unadjusted, 16.2; OLS, 7.7; PSM, 6.4.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The findings suggest that light drinking during pregnancy is not linked to developmental problems in mid-childhood. These findings support current UK Department of Health guidelines on drinking during pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Iacovou
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wolke
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sacker
mesh_terms: D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002652:Child Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D057216:Propensity Score; D013695:Temperance; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Alcohol; Millennium Cohort Study; Pregnancy; behaviour; cognitive tests