Kelly, Yvonne, Sacker, Amanda, Gray, Ron, Kelly, John, Wolke, Dieter and Quigley, Maria A. (2009) Light drinking in pregnancy, a risk for behavioural problems and cognitive deficits at 3 years of age? International Journal of Epidemiology, Vol.38 (No.1). pp. 129-140. doi:10.1093/ije/dyn230

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Abstract

Background
The objective of this study was to determine whether there was an association between mothers’ light drinking during pregnancy and risk of behavioural problems, and cognitive deficits in their children at age 3 years.
Methods
Data from the first two sweeps of the nationally representative prospective UK Millennium Cohort study were used. Drinking patterns during pregnancy and behavioural and cognitive outcomes were assessed during interviews and home visits. Behavioural problems were indicated by scores falling above defined clinically 15 relevant cut-offs on the parent-report version of the Strengths and
Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Cognitive ability was assessed using the naming vocabulary subscale from the British Ability Scale (BAS) and the Bracken School Readiness Assessment (BSRA).
Results
There was a J-shaped relationship between mothers drinking
20 during pregnancy and the likelihood of high scores (above the cut-off) on the total difficulties scale of the SDQ and the conduct problems, hyperactivity and emotional symptom SDQ subscales. Children born to light drinkers were less likely to score above the cut-offs compared with children of abstinent mothers. Children 25 born to heavy drinkers were more likely to score above the cut-offs
compared with children of abstinent mothers. Boys born to mothers who had up to 1–2 drinks per week or per occasion were less likely to have conduct problems (OR 0.59, 95% CI 0.45–0.77) and hyperactivity (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.54–0.94). These effects remained 30 in fully adjusted models. Girls were less likely to have emotional symptoms (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.51–1.01) and peer problems (OR 0.68, 95% CI 0.52–0.92) compared with those born to abstainers. These effects were attenuated in fully adjusted models. Boys born to light drinkers had higher cognitive ability test scores [standard
35 deviations, (95% CI)] BAS 0.15 (0.08–0.23) BSRA 0.24 (0.16–0.32) compared with boys born to abstainers. The difference for BAS was attenuated on adjustment for socio-economic factors, whilst the difference for BSRA remained statistically significant.
Conclusions
Children born to mothers who drank up to 1–2 drinks per week or per occasion during pregnancy were not at increased risk of clinically relevant behavioural difficulties or cognitive deficits compared with children of abstinent mothers. Heavy drinking 5 during pregnancy appears to be associated with behavioural problems and cognitive deficits in offspring at age 3 years whereas light drinking does not.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	R Medicine > RG Gynecology and obstetrics R Medicine > RJ Pediatrics
Divisions:	Faculty of Science > Psychology Faculty of Medicine > Warwick Medical School
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Pregnant women -- Alcohol use, Cognition disorders in children
Journal or Publication Title:	International Journal of Epidemiology
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
ISSN:	0300-5771
Official Date:	30 October 2009
Dates:	Date Event 30 October 2009 Published
Volume:	Vol.38
Number:	No.1
Number of Pages:	12
Page Range:	pp. 129-140
DOI:	10.1093/ije/dyn230
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Publication Status:	Published
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
Funder:	Economic and Social Research Council (Great Britain) (ESRC)
Grant number:	RES-596-28-0001

Data sourced from Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge

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