preprints.org > medicine and pharmacology > obstetrics and gynaecology > doi: 10.20944/preprints202408.0119.v1 (registering DOI)

Preprint Article Version 1 This version is not peer-reviewed

Version 1 : Received: 1 August 2024 / Approved: 2 August 2024 / Online: 2 August 2024 (03:48:49 CEST)

Electronic cigarette (ecig) use in pregnancy is common, but potential effects on fetal development are largely unknown. The study goal was to examine the association between ecig exposure and fetal growth. Data were extracted from medical charts in this single site retrospective study. The sample, excluding those with known tobacco, alcohol, illicit drug, opioid, and benzodiazepine use, contained women who used ecigs throughout pregnancy and non-ecig user controls. Fetal size measurements from second and third trimester ultrasounds and at birth were expressed as percentiles for gestational age. Following adjustment for confounding factors, in the second trimester, only femur length was significant, with an adjusted deficit of 11.5 percentile points for ecig exposed compared to controls. By the third trimester, femur length difference was 28.5 points, with fetal weight difference also significant (17.2 points). At birth, all three size parameter differences between groups were significant. Significant size deficits were predicted by prenatal ecig exposure, becoming larger and impacting more parameters with increasing gestation. While additional study is warranted to confirm and expand upon these findings, this study adds to emerging data pointing to specific harms following ecig exposure in pregnancy, and suggests that ecigs may not be a “safer” alternative to combustible cigarette smoking in pregnancy.

Electronic cigarettes; Pregnancy smoking; Fetal growth; Birth size

Medicine and Pharmacology, Obstetrics and Gynaecology

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