Vielfältige Studien haben bereits Zusammenhänge zwischen niedrigem Geburtsgewicht und der Entwicklung von Adipositas und eines metabolischen Syndroms im späteren Lebensalter dargestellt. Umfangreiche Daten liegen vor allem für frühgeborene Neonaten vor. Ziel dieser Arbeit ist deshalb die Bewertung perinataler Parameter und der frühen Entwicklung reifer SGA – Neugeborener. Für die vorliegende prospektive Studie wurden 50 Neugeborene mit einem Geburtsgewicht < 10. Perzentile und 50 eutrophe Neugeborene erfasst. Bei allen Kindern wurden anamnestische Befunde zum Schwangerschaftsverlauf, die Biometrie der Eltern sowie Daten zur Geburt und zum stationären Verlauf erfasst. Mit Hilfe eines standardisierten Fragebogens an die niedergelassenen Kinderärzte erfolgte die Nachbeobachtung der Kinder hinsichtlich der Gewichts–, Längen– und Kopfumfangsentwicklung sowie der Ernährung bis zur 15. Lebenswoche. Die Ergebnisse der Studie zeigen, dass nur 13% der SGA – Kinder ein genetisch vermindertes Wachstumspotential haben. Demnach liegt bei der Mehrzahl der SGA – Geborenen ein pathologischer Mechanismus zugrunde. Während der Schwangerschaft waren in der SGA – Gruppe häufiger uterine Perfusionsstörungen bei einem erhöhten Auftreten von Präeklampsien oder Nikotinabusus darstellbar. Die SGA – Kinder wurden häufiger per sectionem geboren und zeigten zu einem erhöhten Anteil Dysmaturitätszeichen als Ausdruck einer intrauterinen Stress– oder Mangelsituation. Aufgrund der perinatalen Risiken sollte die Geburt dieser Kinder in einem Perinatalzentrum erfolgen. In der SGA – Gruppe bestand eine signifikante Korrelation zwischen Gestationsalter und Geburtsgewicht, deshalb ist eine individuelle Abwägung des Geburtszeitpunktes zur Nutzung des noch vorhandenen intrauterinen Wachstumspotentials erforderlich. Kinder der SGA – Gruppe bedurften häufiger einer intensivmedizinischen Betreuung und hatten einen längeren stationären Aufenthalt als Kinder der Vergleichsgruppe; Säurebasenstatus, APGAR – Werte und Blutdruck unterschieden sich nicht. Während des stationären Aufenthaltes wurden die SGA – Neonaten vermehrt zugefüttert und zeigten eine geringere postnatale Gewichtsabnahme. Nach der Entlassung kam es, bezogen auf die Körperlänge, zu einer stärkeren und rascheren Gewichtszunahme bei SGA – Kindern, während die Längendifferenz zunächst bestehen blieb. Ein frühes Aufholwachstum, welches sich in dieser Studie isoliert auf das Gewicht bezieht, ist hinsichtlich späterer metabolischer Störungen als möglicher Risikofaktor zu werten.

INTRODUCTION: Plusieurs études ont été menées sur le risque d’issus indésirables de grossesse associé à la prise de caféine durant la grossesse; cependant aucune étude n'a encore été réalisée sur les facteurs prédictifs de cette exposition. Pourtant, une prise en considération de ces facteurs augmenterait l’efficacité des recommandations nutritionnelles à ce sujet. En outre, peu d'études ont évalué le risque de nouveau-nés petits pour l'âge gestationnel (PAG) comparé aux autres issues indésirables de grossesse. OBJECTIFS: 1) Déterminer la fréquence de la consommation de caféine durant la grossesse et ses facteurs prédictifs ; 2) quantifier l’association de cette exposition au risque de (PAG). MÉTHODE: 3458 participantes ont été sélectionnées aléatoirement dans le Registre Québécois des Grossesses (RQG) créé par l’appariement de trois banques de données administratives : RAMQ, MED–ÉCHO et ISQ. Des analyses statistiques ont permis d’étudier les facteurs prédictifs de cette utilisation et une étude cas-témoins a permis de quantifier le risque de (PAG) qui lui est associé. RÉSULTATS: 87,3% des participantes consommaient de la caféine avant leur grossesse et 71,4% durant. L'âge maternel avancé, le tabagisme, l'hypertension et les hospitalisations avant la grossesse sont des facteurs prédictifs de la consommation de caféine durant la grossesse. Une augmentation de 20% de risque de PAG a été observée [OR = 1,19; 95% IC (1,01–1,40)]. CONCLUSION: La consommation de caféine pendant la grossesse est répandue et la sécurité de cette utilisation doit être questionnée. Nos résultats suggèrent que la consommation de caféine durant la grossesse augmenterait le risque de PAG. / BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted on the association between several adverse pregnancy outcomes and caffeine intake during pregnancy; but, no study has yet been conducted on the predictors of such exposure. However, a consideration of these factors would contribute in making nutritional recommendations in this regard more efficient. In addition, few studies had evaluated the risk of small for gestational age infants (SGA) compared to other adverse pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the frequency of caffeine consumption during pregnancy and its predictors, 2) Quantify the association between SGA outcome and this exposure. METHODS: 3458 participants were randomly selected from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry (QPR) created by the linking of three administrative databases: RAMQ, MED-ECHO and ISQ. Statistical analyzes were used to examine predictors of the use and case-control study was conducted to quantify the risk of SGA associated with it. RESULTS: 87.3% of participants consumed caffeine prior to pregnancy and 71.4% during. Maternal age, smoking, hypertension and hospitalizations before pregnancy are predictors of caffeine consumption during pregnancy. A 20% increase in SGA risk was observed [OR = 1.19, 95% CI (1.01 - 1.40)]. CONCLUSION: Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is common and safety of this use must be questioned. Our results suggest that caffeine consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of SGA.

INTRODUCTION: Plusieurs études ont été menées sur le risque d’issus indésirables de grossesse associé à la prise de caféine durant la grossesse; cependant aucune étude n'a encore été réalisée sur les facteurs prédictifs de cette exposition. Pourtant, une prise en considération de ces facteurs augmenterait l’efficacité des recommandations nutritionnelles à ce sujet. En outre, peu d'études ont évalué le risque de nouveau-nés petits pour l'âge gestationnel (PAG) comparé aux autres issues indésirables de grossesse. OBJECTIFS: 1) Déterminer la fréquence de la consommation de caféine durant la grossesse et ses facteurs prédictifs ; 2) quantifier l’association de cette exposition au risque de (PAG). MÉTHODE: 3458 participantes ont été sélectionnées aléatoirement dans le Registre Québécois des Grossesses (RQG) créé par l’appariement de trois banques de données administratives : RAMQ, MED–ÉCHO et ISQ. Des analyses statistiques ont permis d’étudier les facteurs prédictifs de cette utilisation et une étude cas-témoins a permis de quantifier le risque de (PAG) qui lui est associé. RÉSULTATS: 87,3% des participantes consommaient de la caféine avant leur grossesse et 71,4% durant. L'âge maternel avancé, le tabagisme, l'hypertension et les hospitalisations avant la grossesse sont des facteurs prédictifs de la consommation de caféine durant la grossesse. Une augmentation de 20% de risque de PAG a été observée [OR = 1,19; 95% IC (1,01–1,40)]. CONCLUSION: La consommation de caféine pendant la grossesse est répandue et la sécurité de cette utilisation doit être questionnée. Nos résultats suggèrent que la consommation de caféine durant la grossesse augmenterait le risque de PAG. / BACKGROUND: Several studies have been conducted on the association between several adverse pregnancy outcomes and caffeine intake during pregnancy; but, no study has yet been conducted on the predictors of such exposure. However, a consideration of these factors would contribute in making nutritional recommendations in this regard more efficient. In addition, few studies had evaluated the risk of small for gestational age infants (SGA) compared to other adverse pregnancy outcomes. OBJECTIVES: 1) To determine the frequency of caffeine consumption during pregnancy and its predictors, 2) Quantify the association between SGA outcome and this exposure. METHODS: 3458 participants were randomly selected from the Quebec Pregnancy Registry (QPR) created by the linking of three administrative databases: RAMQ, MED-ECHO and ISQ. Statistical analyzes were used to examine predictors of the use and case-control study was conducted to quantify the risk of SGA associated with it. RESULTS: 87.3% of participants consumed caffeine prior to pregnancy and 71.4% during. Maternal age, smoking, hypertension and hospitalizations before pregnancy are predictors of caffeine consumption during pregnancy. A 20% increase in SGA risk was observed [OR = 1.19, 95% CI (1.01 - 1.40)]. CONCLUSION: Caffeine consumption during pregnancy is common and safety of this use must be questioned. Our results suggest that caffeine consumption during pregnancy increases the risk of SGA.

Background: Preeclampsia, small for gestational age (SGA), placental abruption, and fetal death are pregnancy complications linked to the utero-placental vasculature with serious consequences for maternal and infant well-being. Elevated homocysteine, a marker of cardiovascular disease risk, is postulated to play a role in placenta-mediated complications, but epidemiologic studies have reported inconsistent findings. The two primary objectives of this thesis were to 1: comprehensively investigate the association of homocysteine with placenta-mediated complications and examine modifying effects of pre-specified factors on this association, and 2: comprehensively investigate determinants of maternal homocysteine during pregnancy. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis of prospective studies was conducted to address thesis objective 1. The Ottawa and Kingston (OaK) Birth Cohort, a prospective cohort study that recruited pregnant women between 2002 and 2009, was used to address thesis objectives 1 and 2. Homocysteine concentration was measured between 12 and 20 weeks gestation. Analyses based on the OaK Birth Cohort consisted of multivariable regressions using restricted cubic splines to model associations with continuously distributed variables. Results: Objective 1: In an analysis of 7587 participants, a significant association between homocysteine concentration and a composite outcome of any placenta-mediated complication was observed (odds ratio (OR) for a 5 µmol/L increase: 1.63, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 1.23-2.16) and SGA (OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.25-2.46), with potential modifying effects of the methylene tetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) 677C>T variant (SGA) and high-risk pregnancy (preeclampsia). In the systematic review identifying 30 prospective cohort or nested case-control studies, a random effects meta-analysis of pooled mean differences in homocysteine between cases and controls in 28 studies revealed significantly higher means for SGA: 0.35 µmol/L (95% CI 0.19 to 0.51, I2=33%); and preeclampsia: 0.87 µmol/L (95% CI 0.52 to 1.21, I2=92%). Significant sources of heterogeneity were study region (SGA and preeclampsia), adjusting for covariates (preeclampsia), folate status (preeclampsia), and severity (preeclampsia). Objective 2: In 7587 OaK participants, factors related to favourable health status were associated with lower maternal homocysteine concentrations. Folic acid supplementation during pregnancy of >1 mg/day did not substantially increase serum folate concentration. Conclusion: This thesis suggests an independent effect of slightly higher homocysteine concentration in the early to mid-second trimester on the risk of any placenta-mediated complication, SGA, and preeclampsia. Modifying effects explain some of the variability in previous studies. Favourable preconception health status was associated with lower maternal homocysteine.

Background: The prevalence of opioid use disorder has increased across the United States, but the rural population of Appalachia has been disproportionately impacted. Concurrently, the slow, but steady progress in the legalization of marijuana may be affecting perception of marijuana use in pregnancy. However, marijuana use in pregnancy has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes. Concomitant use of opioids and marijuana in pregnancy has not been evaluated. Objective: The primary aim of the study was to evaluate the association between confirmed marijuana use in late pregnancy and preterm birth in opioid-exposed pregnancies. Methodology: A retrospective chart review was conducted that included all births from July 2011 to June 2016 from 6 delivery hospitals in South-Central Appalachia. Out of 18,732 births, 2368 singleton pregnancies indicated opioid use and met remaining inclusion criteria, with 108 of these mothers testing positive for marijuana at delivery. Independent sample t-test and Chi-Square analyses compared marijuana and non-marijuana exposed groups on maternal and neonatal outcomes. Regression analyses controlled for confounding variables in predicting neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), NICU admission, preterm birth, small for gestational age, and low birth weight outcomes as shown in Table 1. Results: Neonates born to marijuana-positive women in opioid-exposed pregnancy were more likely to be born preterm, small for gestational age, have low birth weight, and be admitted to NICU. After statistically controlling for parity, marital status, tobacco and benzodiazepine use, preterm birth and low birth weight remained statistically significant with aOR of 2.35 (1.30–4.24) and 2.01 (1.18–3.44), respectively. Conclusions: Maternal use of marijuana in any opioid-exposed pregnancy may increase risk of preterm birth and low-birth weight infants. Prospective studies need to examine the dose and timing of marijuana and opioid use in pregnancy to better delineate perinatal effects. Nonetheless, pregnant women using opioids, including recommended medication assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, should be educated about the risks of concurrent marijuana use during pregnancy and may need to be counseled to abstain from marijuana use during pregnancy for an optimal outcome.