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Background Low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionate burden of preterm birth (PTB) and low infant birth weight (LBW) complications where affective and anxiety disorders are more common in the antepartum period than in industrialized countries. Objective To evaluate the extent to which early pregnancy antepartum depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are associated with infant birth weight and gestational age at delivery among a cohort of pregnant women in Peru. Methods Our prospective cohort study consisted of 4408 pregnant women. Antepartum depression, generalized anxiety, and PTSD were assessed in early pregnancy using the Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 and PTSD Checklist – Civilian Version, respectively. Pregnancy outcome data were obtained from medical records. Multivariable linear and logistic regression procedures were used to estimate adjusted measures of association (β coefficients and odds ratios) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results After adjusting for confounders, women with antepartum generalized anxiety (32.6% prevalence) had higher odds of LBW (adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.47; 95%CI: 1.10–1.95) and were more likely to deliver small for gestational age (OR = 1.39; 95%CI: 1.01–1.92) infants compared to those without anxiety. Compared to those without PTSD, women with PTSD (34.5%) had higher odds of delivering preterm (OR = 1.28; 95%CI: 1.00–1.65) yet PTSD was not associated with LBW nor gestational age at delivery. Women with antepartum depression (26.2%) were at no increased risk of delivering a preterm, low-birth-weight or small-for-gestational-age infant. Limitations Our ability to make casual inferences from this observational study is limited; however, these findings are consistent with prior studies. Conclusion Generalized anxiety disorder during pregnancy appeared to increase odds of delivering a low-birth-weight or small-for-gestational-age infant, while PTSD was associated with increased odds of delivering preterm. Our findings, and those of others, suggest antenatal care should be tailored to screen for and provide additional mental health services to patients.

ObjectiveTo evaluate the rate of developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and its correlation to cognition and self-experienced health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in children born very preterm.DesignProspective follow-up study.SettingRegional population of children born very preterm in Turku University Hospital, Finland, in 2001–2006.PatientsA total of 170 children born very preterm were followed up until 11 years of age.Main outcome measuresMotor and cognitive outcomes were evaluated using the Movement Assessment Battery for Children - Second Edition (Movement ABC-2) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fourth Edition, respectively, and HRQoL using the 17-Dimensional Illustrated Questionnaire (17D). The Touwen neurological examination was performed to exclude other neurological conditions affecting the motor outcome.ResultsEighteen children born very preterm (17 boys) (11.3%) had DCD, defined as Movement ABC-2 total test score ≤5th percentile. A positive correlation between motor and cognitive outcome (r=0.22, p=0.006) was found. Children born very preterm with DCD had lower cognitive scores than those without DCD (Full-Scale IQ mean 76.8 vs 91.6, p=0.001). Moreover, children born very preterm with DCD reported lower HRQoL than children born very preterm without motor impairment (17D mean 0.93 vs 0.96, p=0.03). However, HRQoL was higher in this group of children born very preterm compared with population-based normative test results (pConclusionsDCD was still common at 11 years of age in children born very preterm in 2000s. DCD associated with adverse cognitive development and lower self-experienced HRQoL. However, this group of children born very preterm reported better HRQoL in comparison with Finnish norms.

Background: Pre-eclampsia (PE) carries an increased risk for maternal and/or fetal mortality or serious morbidity. PE is associated with ischemia and increased oxidative stress in the placenta, which may lead to modification of plasma albumin to ischemia-modified albumin (IMA). The aim of this study was to investigate IMA and hematological parameters in mothers and in premature infants in normal and in pre-eclamptic pregnancies. Methods: Twenty-five pregnant women with PE and their premature newborns were categorized as the PE group, and 25 normotensive pregnant women and their premature newborns as the control group. Preterm infants are classified as small for gestational age (SGA) or non-SGA according to the Fenton preterm growth chart. Serum IMA, complete blood count (CBC), liver function tests (LFT), renal function tests (RFT), albumin, and C-reactive protein were measured in the mothers immediately before birth, and in the cord blood and serum of the newborns at 6 and 24 h after birth. Clinical and demographic data were recorded for both groups. Results: While IMA, LFT and RFT were significantly increased in the PE group compared with the control group, albumin and CBC were significantly lower in the PE group. A total of 40% of PE newborns were SGA, 30% of whom had severe SGA (birthweight

PURPOSE The objective of this study was to investigate and compare corneal thicknesses of prematurely born and full-term early school-aged children, who were grouped into birth weight categories according to gestational age. METHODS This cross-sectional study included 136 school-aged white children. They were grouped as premature (born before 37 weeks of gestation) and full term (born at or after 37 weeks of gestation). These 2 groups were further divided into birth weight groups according to gestational age as small, appropriate, and large for gestational age. Central corneal thickness (CCT) was measured by ultrasound pachymetry. The intraocular pressures of both groups were measured by a Goldmann applanation tonometer. RESULTS The study included right eyes of 136 children. There were 53 girls and 83 boys whose mean age was 6.5 ± 0.9 years (range: 5-8 yrs). Mean pachymetry of the small for gestational age group (526.8 ± 37.9 μm) in prematurely born children was significantly lower than that of appropriate for gestational age (554.6 ± 34.2 μm) (P = 0.039, mean difference 27.8, 95% confidence interval, 1.1-54.5). When prematurely born and full-term children are compared, the mean pachymetric values of the term children (574.5 ± 37.8 μm) were found to be significantly higher than those of the prematurely born children (545.4 ± 35.6 μm) (P ≤ 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Birth parameters affect CCT in early school-aged children. Prematurely born, small for gestational age children have lesser CCT. This should be kept in mind at their follow-ups.

ABALI, SAYGIN/0000-0001-6552-2801; Gurbuz, Fatih/0000-0003-2160-9838; Hatun, Sukru/0000-0003-1633-9570; Abaci, Ayhan/0000-0002-1812-0321; Turan, Serap/0000-0002-5172-5402; Buyukinan, Muammer/0000-0002-2937-823X; yuksel, bilgin/0000-0003-4378-3255; Ozgen, Ilker Tolga/0000-0001-6592-9652; binay, cigdem/0000-0002-7749-8818; ozkan, Behzat/0000-0002-9153-8409; Demir, Korcan/0000-0002-8334-2422; Eren, Erdal/0000-0002-1684-1053 WOS: 000373099300016 PubMed: 26788866 To evaluate the anthropometric features of girls with Turner syndrome (TS) at birth and presentation and the effect of karyotype on these parameters. Data were collected from 842 patients with TS from 35 different centers, who were followed-up between 1984 and 2014 and whose diagnosis age ranged from birth to 18 years. Of the 842 patients, 122 girls who received growth hormone, estrogen or oxandrolone were excluded, and 720 girls were included in the study. In this cohort, the frequency of small for gestational age (SGA) birth was 33%. The frequency of SGA birth was 4.2% (2/48) in preterm and 36% (174/483) in term neonates (P

Objective To gain insight into health and related costs associated with very preterm births, one needs accurate information about the prevalence of the disabling conditions, including neonatal hearing loss (NHL). Study design We assessed the prevalence of NHL by week of gestation and categories of birth weight in very preterm neonates. Results of the 2-stage Automated Auditory Brainstem Response nationwide Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Units and diagnostic examinations were centrally registered between October 1998 and December 2012 and included in this study. NHL was defined as impaired when the neonate conventional Auditory Brainstem Response level exceeded 35 dB near Hearing Level at diagnostic examination. Birth weight was stratified into

Objective To gain insight into health and related costs associated with very preterm births, one needs accurate information about the prevalence of the disabling conditions, including neonatal hearing loss (NHL). Study design We assessed the prevalence of NHL by week of gestation and categories of birth weight in very preterm neonates. Results of the 2-stage Automated Auditory Brainstem Response nationwide Newborn Hearing Screening Program in Dutch Neonatal Intensive Care Units and diagnostic examinations were centrally registered between October 1998 and December 2012 and included in this study. NHL was defined as impaired when the neonate conventional Auditory Brainstem Response level exceeded 35 dB near Hearing Level at diagnostic examination. Birth weight was stratified into

Objective. To assess the effect of demographic and neonatal risk factors and outcome at the last available assessment on the probability of full responders, postal responders (those who only responded to the mailed questionnaire), or nonresponders in a follow-up study of 19-year-old adolescents who were born as preterm infants. Design. The 19-year follow-up program was part of a large ongoing collaborative study in the Netherlands on the long-term effect of prematurity and dysmaturity on various medical, psychological, and social parameters. In the original cohort, 1338 infants (94%) with a gestational age of Results. The odds ratios (ORs) for male versus female for the probabilities of nonresponse and postal response were statistically significant: 2.7 (95% CI: 1.9–3.9) and 1.6 (95% CI: 1.0–2.5), respectively. The same holds for the ORs for non-Dutch versus Dutch and low versus high maternal education for nonresponse: 2.0 (95% CI: 1.3–3.2) and 3.7 (95% CI: 2.0–6.7), respectively. Special education and severe handicap showed a statistically significant influence on nonresponse (OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1–2.4 and OR: 2.6; 95% CI: 1.3–5.2) and postal response (OR: 2.0; 95% CI: 1.2–3.3 and OR: 4.4; 95% CI: 2.0–9.9), respectively. At the age of 19 years, primary school and special education were found significantly more frequent in the postal responders than in the full-response group (20% and 21% vs 6% and 12%). The full responders, on the other hand, were higher educated than were the postal responders. Conclusions. In this follow-up study at the age of 19 years, boys, non-Dutch adolescents, and low maternal education were overrepresented in the nonresponse and postal-response groups. Nonresponse decreased the proportion of infants with adverse outcome in assessed children. To be able to present reliable results for the total group of survivors in long-term follow-up studies, the nonresponse bias needs to be quantified. Therefore, it is evident that more research using statistical methods such as imputation of missing data is needed.

Bij kinderen die te vroeg geboren worden of met een te laag geboortegewicht voor de zwangerschapsduur (‘small for gestational age’ (SGA)) is intensieve zorg en nazorg gewenst. Knelpunten hierbij zijn de vaak gedeelde zorg door kinderartsen, huisartsen, jeugdgezondheidszorg (jgz) en andere professionals voor de zeer te vroeg geboren kinderen (< 32 zwangerschapsweken), en het signaleren van mogelijke later ontstane gezondheidsproblemen bij de matig vroeg geboren kinderen (na 32-37 zwangerschapsweken). De multidisciplinair ontwikkelde en evidencebased jgz- richtlijn ‘Te vroeg en/of small for gestational age (SGA) geboren kinderen’ is relevant voor alle professionals betrokken bij de zorg voor deze groep kinderen. De belangrijkste aanbevelingen zijn: (a) tijdig en volledig overdragen van gegevens na ontslag uit ziekenhuis, (b) gestructureerde gegevensuitwisseling bij gedeelde nazorg, (c) aanwijzen van een casemanager per kind, (d) corrigeren van de testleeftijd voor de mate van vroeggeboorte bij ontwikkelingsonderzoek, en (e) mogelijkheid van gebruik van speciale curves en normen voor vroeggeboren kinderen bij het beoordelen van de groei en ontwikkeling.

Bij kinderen die te vroeg geboren worden of met een te laag geboortegewicht voor de zwangerschapsduur (‘small for gestational age’ (SGA)) is intensieve zorg en nazorg gewenst. Knelpunten hierbij zijn de vaak gedeelde zorg door kinderartsen, huisartsen, jeugdgezondheidszorg (jgz) en andere professionals voor de zeer te vroeg geboren kinderen (< 32 zwangerschapsweken), en het signaleren van mogelijke later ontstane gezondheidsproblemen bij de matig vroeg geboren kinderen (na 32-37 zwangerschapsweken). De multidisciplinair ontwikkelde en evidencebased jgz- richtlijn ‘Te vroeg en/of small for gestational age (SGA) geboren kinderen’ is relevant voor alle professionals betrokken bij de zorg voor deze groep kinderen. De belangrijkste aanbevelingen zijn: (a) tijdig en volledig overdragen van gegevens na ontslag uit ziekenhuis, (b) gestructureerde gegevensuitwisseling bij gedeelde nazorg, (c) aanwijzen van een casemanager per kind, (d) corrigeren van de testleeftijd voor de mate van vroeggeboorte bij ontwikkelingsonderzoek, en (e) mogelijkheid van gebruik van speciale curves en normen voor vroeggeboren kinderen bij het beoordelen van de groei en ontwikkeling.

The aim of the present study was to describe socioeconomic inequalities in low birth weight (LBW), premature birth (PM) and small size for gestational age at birth (SGA) between 2000 and 2005 in Barcelona, Spain, jointly evaluating the effect of mother's country of origin, and neighborhood of residence socioeconomic level measured using unemployment and educational level. We performed a cross-sectional study of births to mothers aged 12-49 years who were residents in the city of Barcelona in 2000-2005, analyzing adverse pregnancy outcomes (n=61,676). Weighted multilevel logistic regression models were fitted with individual data on level 1 and neighborhood data on level 2, to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals and residual variance. Individually, pregnancy outcomes are more favorable in births to older mothers and to mothers from Maghrib and Central and South America than from developed countries (including Spain) or from other developing countries. After adjusting for individual variables, poor pregnancy outcomes were associated with poor neighborhoods (more unemployment was associated to LBW: aOR =1.56; PM aOR = 1.51; SGA aOR =1.66). The same trend was observed for associations with illiteracy rate. The present study shows that there are socioeconomic inequalities in adverse pregnancy outcomes in the city of Barcelona. One of the main challenges in perinatal health continues to be the reduction of adverse pregnancy outcomes in the city. © 2011 The New York Academy of Medicine.

Objective: Many obstetric interventions are performed to improve long-term neonatal outcome. However, long-term neonatal outcome is usually not a primary outcome because it is time-consuming and expensive. The aim of this project was to identify different perinatal risk indicators and to develop prediction models for neurologic morbidity at 2 and 5 years of age. Study design: Data from a Dutch cohort study of preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants was used. Neonates who were born in The Netherlands in 1983 with a gestational age of

Objective: Many obstetric interventions are performed to improve long-term neonatal outcome. However, long-term neonatal outcome is usually not a primary outcome because it is time-consuming and expensive. The aim of this project was to identify different perinatal risk indicators and to develop prediction models for neurologic morbidity at 2 and 5 years of age. Study design: Data from a Dutch cohort study of preterm and small-for-gestational-age infants was used. Neonates who were born in The Netherlands in 1983 with a gestational age of

OBJETIVO: Fornecer informações para pediatras e neonatologistas quanto à expectativa real da evolução destas crianças e, assim, auxiliar no planejamento de sua atuação. FONTES DOS DADOS: Pesquisa bibliográfica nas bases de dados da Cochrane Library, MEDLINE e Lilacs. SÍNTESE DOS DADOS: Para avaliação do crescimento e desenvolvimento nos primeiros 2-3 anos, deve-se corrigir a idade cronológica em função do grau de prematuridade. Prematuros pequenos para a idade gestacional e os com displasia broncopulmonar despertam maior preocupação quanto a seu prognóstico. Especial atenção deve ser dada à adequação da nutrição do prematuro de extremo baixo peso nos primeiros anos; estes prematuros geralmente evoluem com falha no catch-up, elevada morbidade e necessidade de reinternação nos primeiros 2 anos de vida. São crianças menores e mais leves no início da infância, mas podem apresentar catch-up tardio, entre 8-14 anos. Crianças nascidas de extremo baixo peso são de alto risco para anormalidades neurológicas e atraso no desenvolvimento nos primeiros anos de vida. Na idade escolar, são freqüentes os problemas educacionais, comportamentais e psicológicos. Adolescentes e adultos nascidos de extremo baixo peso ainda persistem com alguma diferença em seu desempenho, mas sua integração social não é prejudicada. CONCLUSÕES: O crescimento e desenvolvimento de todos os prematuros de extremo baixo peso devem ser cuidadosamente monitorizados após a alta hospitalar, para garantir que estas crianças e suas famílias recebam adequado suporte e intervenção, a fim de otimizar seu prognóstico. OBJETIVE: To provide information for pediatricians and neonatologists to create realistic outcome expectations and thus help plan their actions. DATA SOURCES: Searches were made of the Cochrane Library, MEDLINE, and Lilacs databases. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS: The assessment of growth and development over the first 2-3 years must adjust chronological age with respect of the degree of prematurity. There is special concern regarding the prognoses of small for gestational age preterm infants, and for those with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Attention must be directed towards improving the nutrition of extremely low birth weight infants during their first years of life; these infants have high prevalence levels of failure to catch-up on growth, diseases and rehospitalizations during their first 2 years. They are frequently underweight and shorter than expected during early childhood, but delayed catch-up growth may occur between 8 and 14 years. Extremely low birth weight infants are at increased risk of neurological abnormalities and developmental delays during their first years of life. Educational, psychological, and behavioral problems are frequent during school years. Teenage and adult outcomes show that although some performance differences persist, social integration is not impaired. CONCLUSIONS: The growth and neurodevelopment of all ELBW infants must be carefully monitored after discharge, to ensure that children and their families receive adequate support and intervention to optimize prognoses.

Aim: To assess whether attrition rate influences outcome in the follow-up of very preterm infants. Study design: In a national follow-up study of infants born alive in 1983 in the Netherlands with a gestational age less than 32 weeks and/or a birth weight less than 1500 g, outcome was assessed separately for adolescents who responded early or late to a follow-up invitation at age 14 years. Neonatal data and outcome results of earlier assessments from early and late responders were compared to those of non-responders by univariate and nominal (polytomous logistic) regression analysis. Subjects: There were 723 (76%) early responders, 130 (14%) late responders and 109 (11%) non-responders. Results: We found significantly more non-Dutch origin and more disabilities and school problems at age 10 years in late- and especially in non-responders. At age 14 years, the health utility index was significantly lower in late responders compared to early responders. School outcome did not show difference in relation to the response groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that the incidence of adverse outcome in very preterm infants is underestimated when follow-up is incomplete and hence response rate is not a negligible problem in the assessment of late outcome. Therefore, follow-up studies should include a drop-out analysis to enable comparison to other studies.

Aim: To assess whether attrition rate influences outcome in the follow-up of very preterm infants. Study design: In a national follow-up study of infants born alive in 1983 in the Netherlands with a gestational age less than 32 weeks and/or a birth weight less than 1500 g, outcome was assessed separately for adolescents who responded early or late to a follow-up invitation at age 14 years. Neonatal data and outcome results of earlier assessments from early and late responders were compared to those of non-responders by univariate and nominal (polytomous logistic) regression analysis. Subjects: There were 723 (76%) early responders, 130 (14%) late responders and 109 (11%) non-responders. Results: We found significantly more non-Dutch origin and more disabilities and school problems at age 10 years in late- and especially in non-responders. At age 14 years, the health utility index was significantly lower in late responders compared to early responders. School outcome did not show difference in relation to the response groups. Conclusion: The results suggest that the incidence of adverse outcome in very preterm infants is underestimated when follow-up is incomplete and hence response rate is not a negligible problem in the assessment of late outcome. Therefore, follow-up studies should include a drop-out analysis to enable comparison to other studies.

Background: Improved survival due to advances in neonatal care has brought issues such as postnatal growth and development more to the focus of our attention. Most studies report stunting in children born very preterm and/or small for gestational age. In this article we study the growth pattern of these children and aim to identify factors associated with postnatal catch-up growth. Methods: 1338 children born with a gestational age

Objective. To assess the effect of demographic and neonatal risk factors and outcome at the last available assessment on the probability of full responders, postal responders (those who only responded to the mailed questionnaire), or nonresponders in a follow-up study of 19-year-old adolescents who were born as preterm infants. Design. The 19-year follow-up program was part of a large ongoing collaborative study in the Netherlands on the long-term effect of prematurity and dysmaturity on various medical, psychological, and social parameters. In the original cohort, 1338 infants (94%) with a gestational age of

Background: Improved survival due to advances in neonatal care has brought issues such as postnatal growth and development more to the focus of our attention. Most studies report stunting in children born very preterm and/or small for gestational age. In this article we study the growth pattern of these children and aim to identify factors associated with postnatal catch-up growth. Methods: 1338 children born with a gestational age

In een samenwerkingsproject van de Nederlandse kinderartsen werden in 1983 perinatale gegevens bijeengebracht over 1338 kinderen, levend geboren na een zwangerschap van minder dan 32 weken en/of met een geboortegewicht onder 1500 g (‘Project on preterm and small for gestational age infants’, POPS). Hun toestand werd onderzocht na 2 jaar door hun kinderartsen, na 5 jaar door een team van onderzoekers en na 9, 10-11 en 14 jaar door middel van een vragenlijst ingevuld door ouders, leerkrachten en de kinderen zelf. Uit deze 14 jaar naonderzoek bleek dat een gering percentage van deze kinderen (10) een ernstige handicap of beperking had op de schoolleeftijd. Hoewel dus 90 op die leeftijd geen ernstige beperkingen had, ondervond de helft van hen aanzienlijke problemen in het dagelijkse leven. Lichte ontwikkelingsstoornissen en gedrags- en leerstoornissen namen toe naarmate deze kinderen ouder werden. Dergelijke stoornissen kunnen zelfstandig functioneren op volwassen leeftijd ernstig belemmeren. Afwijkingen vastgesteld tijdens gestandaardiseerd neurologisch onderzoek op jonge leeftijd hebben een hoge voorspellende waarde voor deze latere problemen. Vroege signalering van ontwikkelingsstoornissen bij te vroeg geboren kinderen en het vroeg starten van gerichte interventies zouden een belangrijk instrument kunnen zijn om de late gevolgen te beperken.

In een samenwerkingsproject van de Nederlandse kinderartsen werden in 1983 perinatale gegevens bijeengebracht over 1338 kinderen, levend geboren na een zwangerschap van minder dan 32 weken en/of met een geboortegewicht onder 1500 g (‘Project on preterm and small for gestational age infants’, POPS). Hun toestand werd onderzocht na 2 jaar door hun kinderartsen, na 5 jaar door een team van onderzoekers en na 9, 10-11 en 14 jaar door middel van een vragenlijst ingevuld door ouders, leerkrachten en de kinderen zelf. Uit deze 14 jaar naonderzoek bleek dat een gering percentage van deze kinderen (10) een ernstige handicap of beperking had op de schoolleeftijd. Hoewel dus 90 op die leeftijd geen ernstige beperkingen had, ondervond de helft van hen aanzienlijke problemen in het dagelijkse leven. Lichte ontwikkelingsstoornissen en gedrags- en leerstoornissen namen toe naarmate deze kinderen ouder werden. Dergelijke stoornissen kunnen zelfstandig functioneren op volwassen leeftijd ernstig belemmeren. Afwijkingen vastgesteld tijdens gestandaardiseerd neurologisch onderzoek op jonge leeftijd hebben een hoge voorspellende waarde voor deze latere problemen. Vroege signalering van ontwikkelingsstoornissen bij te vroeg geboren kinderen en het vroeg starten van gerichte interventies zouden een belangrijk instrument kunnen zijn om de late gevolgen te beperken.

Background. The validity of the results of studies using retrospectively collected information on exposures is often criticized, because cases may report differently from controls even if their true exposure status is the same. This study was performed to quantify the extent to which this effect (differential misclassification) may occur for alcohol and cigarette consumption by pregnancy outcome. Methods. Prospective as well as retrospective information on alcohol and cigarette consumption was collected for 2806 mothers resident in all 12 provinces of the Netherlands, who gave birth between 1978 and 1979. Changes in mean reported consumption and changes from user to non-user based on retrospective and prospective information were compared for cases and controls. This was done by calculating absolute differences (retrospective minus prospective) in reported consumption and by calculating 'misclassification odds ratios'. Further, conventional odds ratios based on retrospective information were compared with those based on prospective information. Outcome measures were stillbirth, small for gestational age (SGA), congenital malformations, preterm birth and low birthweight. Results. The only statistically significant result was found for smoking and SGA. Mothers with an SGA child retrospectively reported a higher number of cigarettes smoked than they had prospectively, more so than mothers of a control child. However, the odds ratios of the relation between SGA and smoking based on prospective and retrospective information, respectively, were virtually the same. Conclusions. Our results suggest that information bias is unlikely to have a large influence on effect estimates in studies using retrospective information on alcohol and cigarette consumption. Chemicals/CAS: alcohol, 64-17-5

Background. The validity of the results of studies using retrospectively collected information on exposures is often criticized, because cases may report differently from controls even if their true exposure status is the same. This study was performed to quantify the extent to which this effect (differential misclassification) may occur for alcohol and cigarette consumption by pregnancy outcome. Methods. Prospective as well as retrospective information on alcohol and cigarette consumption was collected for 2806 mothers resident in all 12 provinces of the Netherlands, who gave birth between 1978 and 1979. Changes in mean reported consumption and changes from user to non-user based on retrospective and prospective information were compared for cases and controls. This was done by calculating absolute differences (retrospective minus prospective) in reported consumption and by calculating 'misclassification odds ratios'. Further, conventional odds ratios based on retrospective information were compared with those based on prospective information. Outcome measures were stillbirth, small for gestational age (SGA), congenital malformations, preterm birth and low birthweight. Results. The only statistically significant result was found for smoking and SGA. Mothers with an SGA child retrospectively reported a higher number of cigarettes smoked than they had prospectively, more so than mothers of a control child. However, the odds ratios of the relation between SGA and smoking based on prospective and retrospective information, respectively, were virtually the same. Conclusions. Our results suggest that information bias is unlikely to have a large influence on effect estimates in studies using retrospective information on alcohol and cigarette consumption. Chemicals/CAS: alcohol, 64-17-5

To assess the impact of both perinatal disorders and developmental problems identified at preschool age on school performance, we followed a virtually complete birth cohort of very premature (