Longitudinal prediction of periconception alcohol use: a 20‐year prospective cohort study across adolescence, young adulthood and pregnancy
Year: 2021
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Alcohol consumption is common in adolescence and young adulthood and may continue into pregnancy, posing serious risk to early fetal development. We examine the frequency of periconception alcohol use (prior to pregnancy awareness) and the extent to which adolescent and young adult alcohol use prospectively predict periconception use. DESIGN: A longitudinal, population-based study. SETTING: Victoria, Australia. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 289 women in trimester three of pregnancy (age 29-35 years; 388 pregnancies). MEASURES: The main exposures were binge [≥ 4.0 standard drinks (SDs)/day] and frequent (≥ 3 days/week) drinking in adolescence (mean age = 14.9-17.4 years) and young adulthood (mean age 20.7-29.1 years). Outcomes were frequency (≥ 3 days/week, ≥ monthly, never) and quantity (≥ 4.0 SDs, ≥ 0.5 and < 4.0 SDs, none) of periconception drinking. FINDINGS: Alcohol use was common in young adulthood prior to pregnancy (72%) and in the early weeks of pregnancy (76%). The proportions drinking on most days and binge drinking were similar at both points. Reflecting a high degree of continuity in alcohol use behaviours, most women who drank periconceptionally had an earlier history of frequent (77%) and/or binge (85%) drinking throughout the adolescent or young adult years. Young adult binge drinking prospectively predicted periconception drinking quantity [odds ratio (OR) = 3.7, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.9-7.4], compared with women with no prior history. Similarly, frequent young adult drinking prospectively predicted frequent periconception drinking (OR = 30.7, 95% CI = 12.3-76.7). CONCLUSIONS: Women who engage in risky (i.e. frequent and binge) drinking in their adolescent and young adult years are more likely to report risky drinking in early pregnancy prior to pregnancy recognition than women with no prior history of risky drinking.
Source: Addiction
DOI: 10.1111/add.15632
Institutions: Royal Children's Hospital, Deakin University, The University of Melbourne, UNSW Sydney, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, The University of Sydney, Children's Hospital at Westmead, Sydney Children's Hospital, Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, Monash University
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $3,700
Funders: Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin Research Institute, Children's Hospital Foundation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Australian Rotary Health, State Government of Victoria, Financial Markets Foundation for Children, Colonial Foundation, Medical Research Council, Australian Research Council, National Health and Medical Research Council
Awards: The role of preconception and perinatal substance use and misuse in childhood social, emotional and behavioural problems, G320689232, The intergenerational origins of social and emotional wellbeing, G427368676, Research Fellowship, Statistical methods for modelling the pathways between cause and effect, Preconception predictors of health, behaviour and emotional adjustment at seven years, Reducing the Effects of Antenatal Alcohol on Child Health (REAACH), Development and Trial Implementation of a Comprehensive Intergenerational Mental Health Monitoring System, G7539753117, Predicting birth and early life outcomes, Preconception antecedents of health in the first year of life
OpenAlex ID: W3196588848