Impact of maternal smoking during pregnancy on microvasculature in childhood. The Generation R Study

Background Fetal exposure to maternal smoking is associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in later life. Early microvasculature adaptations might be part of the underlying mechanisms for these associations. Aims The aim of this study was to examine the influence of maternal smoking during pregnancy on retinal vessel calibers in children. Study design We performed a population-based prospective cohort study among 3564 school-age children. Maternal smoking patterns during pregnancy were assessed by questionnaires. Outcome measures At the median age of 6.0 years (95% range 5.8, 8.0 years), we measured childhood retinal vessel calibers from retinal photographs. Results No differences were observed in childhood retinal arteriolar and venular calibers among offspring from mothers who smoked in the first trimester and mothers who continued smoking throughout pregnancy, as compared to mothers who did not smoke during pregnancy. Also, no dose-dependent associations of the number of cigarettes smoked during pregnancy with childhood retinal vessel calibers were present. Conclusion Maternal smoking during pregnancy did not influence childhood retinal arteriolar and venular calibers. The mechanisms linking fetal smoke exposure with cardiovascular risk factors in later life may include other mechanisms than structural microvasculature adaptations.