The different role of prenatal and postnatal exposure to tobacco smoke in respiratory outcomes in infants has not yet been clearly established. Our objective is to assess the effects of these exposures on the risk of respiratory outcomes during the first year of life of infants from a Spanish multicenter cohort study. A total of 2506 women were monitored until delivery. About 2039 infants made up the final population. The outcomes were caused by the occurrence of the following: otitis, cough persisting for more than 3 weeks, lower respiratory tract symptoms (wheezing or chestiness), and lower respiratory tract infections (bronchitis, bronchiolitis, or pneumonia). The relationship between prenatal and postnatal exposure and health outcomes was explored using logistic regression analysis. Maternal smoking during pregnancy increased the odds for wheezing (OR: 1.41, 95% CI: 0.99-2.01) and chestiness (OR: 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03-2.01). Postnatal exposure from fathers was associated with otitis (OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 1.01-1.54). Passive exposure at work of non-smoking mothers during pregnancy was related to cough (OR: 1.62, 95% CI: 1.05-2.51). Exposure to tobacco smoke was related to a higher risk of experiencing respiratory outcomes in young infants. Prenatal exposure was that most clearly associated with the respiratory outcomes analyzed.
Keywords: Infants; Pregnancy; Respiratory tract diseases; Tobacco smoke.
© 2014 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.