title: Effects of maternal inflammation and exposure to cigarette smoke on birth weight and delivery of preterm babies in a cohort of indigenous Australian women.
abstract: Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), neonatal deaths, and deaths from infection are higher among Indigenous Australians. This study aimed to determine the effects of inflammatory responses and exposure to cigarette smoke, two important factors associated with sudden death in infancy, on preterm birth, and birth weight in a cohort of Indigenous mothers. Indigenous Australian women (n = 131) were recruited as part of a longitudinal study while attending antenatal care clinics during pregnancy; blood samples were collected up to three times in pregnancy. Serum cotinine, indicating exposure to cigarette smoke, was detected in 50.4% of mothers. Compared with non-Indigenous women, the cohort had 10 times the prevalence of antibodies to Helicobacter pylori (33 vs. 3%). Levels of immunoglobulin G, antibodies to H. pylori, and C-reactive protein (CRP) were all inversely correlated with gestational age (P < 0.05). CRP levels were positively associated with maternal body mass index (BMI; ρ = 0.449, P = 0.001). The effects of cigarette smoke (cotinine) and inflammation (CRP) were assessed in relation to risk factors for SIDS: gestational age at delivery and birth weight. Serum cotinine levels were negatively associated with birth weight (ρ = -0.37, P < 0.001), this correlation held true for both male (ρ = -0.39, P = 0.002) and female (ρ = -0.30, P = 0.017) infants. Cotinine was negatively associated with gestational age at delivery (ρ = -0.199, P = 0.023). When assessed by fetal sex, this was significant only for males (ρ = -0.327, P = 0.011). CRP was negatively associated with gestational age at delivery for female infants (ρ = -0.46, P < 0.001). In contrast, maternal BMI was significantly correlated with birth weight. These data highlight the importance of putting programs in place to reduce cigarette smoke exposure in pregnancy and to treat women with chronic infections such as H. pylori to improve pregnancy outcomes and decrease risk factors for sudden death in infancy.
authors: School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: Kirsty G
authors: KG
authors: Pringle
authors: Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Department of Rural Health, Faculty of Public Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Gomeroi gaaynggal Centre , Tamworth, NSW , Australia.
authors: Kym
authors: K
authors: Rae
authors: Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Gomeroi gaaynggal Centre , Tamworth, NSW , Australia ; Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Faculty of Public Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: Loretta
authors: L
authors: Weatherall
authors: Information-Based Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Hunter Area Pathology Service Immunology , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: Sharron
authors: S
authors: Hall
authors: Information-Based Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Hunter Area Pathology Service Immunology , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: Christine
authors: C
authors: Burns
authors: Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Mothers and Babies Research Centre, Faculty of Public Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: Roger
authors: R
authors: Smith
authors: School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: Eugenie R
authors: ER
authors: Lumbers
authors: Hunter Medical Research Institute , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Information-Based Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle , Newcastle, NSW , Australia ; Hunter Area Pathology Service Immunology , Newcastle, NSW , Australia.
authors: C Caroline
authors: CC
authors: Blackwell
keywords: Indigenous; SIDS; inflammation; pregnancy; smoking