The effects of prenatal cigarette and e-cigarette exposure on infant neurobehaviour: A comparison to a control group

Froggatt, S.; Reissland, N.; Covey, J.

Abstract

Background: Infant neurobehaviour provides an insight into the development of the central nervous system during infancy, with behavioural abnormalities highlighting a cause for concern. Research has demonstrated that prenatal exposure to cigarettes leads to deficits within neurobehavioural development, along with negative birth outcomes detrimental to subsequent development. With the growing use of e-cigarettes amongst pregnant women, this study explores how prenatal e-cigarette exposure compares to prenatal cigarette exposure. Methods: Eighty-three infants were involved in the study, either exposed prenatally to cigarettes or e-cigarettes or not exposed to either. Differences were assessed between these three groups for birth outcomes and scores on the Neonatal Behavioural Assessment Scale (NBAS) at one month of age. Findings: Both cigarette and e-cigarette exposed infants had a significantly greater number of abnormal reflexes (p = ¢001; p = ¢002). For both self-regulation and motor maturity, cigarette exposed infants performed significantly worse (p = ¢010; p = ¢002), with e-cigarette exposed infants having decreased motor maturity (p = ¢036) abilities and marginally decreased for self-regulation (p = ¢057). Birth outcomes, namely birthweight, gestation and head circumference, did not differ for e-cigarette exposed infants compared with infants who were not prenatally exposed to nicotine. Cigarette exposed infants had a significantly lower birthweight (p = ¢021) and reduced head circumference (p = ¢008) in comparison to non-exposed infants. Interpretation: To our knowledge, this is the first research study assessing a neurological outcome as a result of e-cigarette exposure. Findings of this have potentially important

Citation

Froggatt, S., Reissland, N., & Covey, J. (2020). The effects of prenatal cigarette and e-cigarette exposure on infant neurobehaviour: A comparison to a control group. EClinicalMedicine, 28(100602), Article 100602. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100602

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Oct 1, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Oct 15, 2020
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2020
• Deposit Date: Oct 4, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 16, 2020
• Journal: EClinicalMedicine.
• Electronic ISSN: 2589-5370
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 28
• Issue: 100602
• Article Number: 100602
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2020.100602
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1261198