Determinants of rapid weight gain during infancy: baseline results from the NOURISH randomised controlled trial

Background: Rapid weight gain in infancy is an important predictor of obesity in later childhood. Our aim was to determine which modifiable variables are associated with rapid weight gain in early life.Methods: Subjects were healthy infants enrolled in NOURISH, a randomised, controlled trial evaluating an intervention to promote positive early feeding practices. This analysis used the birth and baseline data for NOURISH. Birthweight was collected from hospital records and infants were also weighed at baseline assessment when they were aged 4-7 months and before randomisation. Infant feeding practices and demographic variables were collected from the mother using a self administered questionnaire. Rapid weight gain was defined as an increase in weight-for-age Z-score (using WHO standards) above 0.67 SD from birth to baseline assessment, which is interpreted clinically as crossing centile lines on a growth chart. Variables associated with rapid weight gain were evaluated using a multivariable logistic regression model.Results: Complete data were available for 612 infants (88% of the total sample recruited) with a mean (SD) age of 4.3 (1.0) months at baseline assessment. After adjusting for mother's age, smoking in pregnancy, BMI, and education and infant birthweight, age, gender and introduction of solid foods, the only two modifiable factors associated with rapid weight gain to attain statistical significance were formula feeding [OR = 1.72 (95%CI 1.01-2.94), P = 0.047] and feeding on schedule [OR = 2.29 (95%CI 1.14-4.61), P = 0.020]. Male gender and lower birthweight were non-modifiable factors associated with rapid weight gain.Conclusions: This analysis supports the contention that there is an association between formula feeding, feeding to schedule and weight gain in the first months of life. Mechanisms may include the actual content of formula milk (e.g. higher protein intake) or differences in feeding styles, such as feeding to schedule, which increase the risk of overfeeding.Trial Registration: Australian Clinical Trials Registry ACTRN12608000056392

Socio-demographic factors associated with smoking and smoking cessation among 426,344 pregnant women in New South Wales, Australia

BACKGROUND: This study explores the socio-demographic characteristics of pregnant women who continue to smoke during the pregnancy, and identifies the characteristics of the smokers who were likely to quit smoking during the pregnancy period. METHODS: This was secondary analysis of the New South Wales (NSW) Midwives Data Collection (MDC) 1999–2003, a surveillance system covering all births in NSW public and private hospitals, as well as home births. Bivariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the associations between socio-demographic characteristics and smoking behaviour during pregnancy. RESULTS: Data from 426,344 pregnant women in NSW showed that 17.0% continued to smoke during pregnancy. The smoking rate was higher among teenage mothers, those with an Aboriginal (indigenous) background, and lower among more affluent and overseas-born mothers. This study also found that unbooked confinements, and lack of antenatal care in the first trimester were strongly associated with increased risk of smoking during pregnancy. About 4.0% of the smoking women reported they may quit smoking during their pregnancy. Findings showed that mothers born overseas, of higher socio-economic status, first time mothers and those who attended antenatal care early showed an increased likelihood of smoking cessation during pregnancy. Those who were heavy smokers were less likely to quit during pregnancy. CONCLUSION: Although the prevalence of smoking during pregnancy has been declining, it remains a significant public health concern. Smoking cessation programs should target the population subgroups of women at highest risk of smoking and who are least likely to quit. Effective antismoking interventions could reduce the obstetric and perinatal complications of smoking in pregnancy

Tabagismo e suas peculiaridades durante a gestação: uma revisão crítica Smoking and its peculiarities during pregnancy: a critical review

A gestação é uma ocasião especial para a promoção da cessação do tabagismo. A preocupação com a saúde do feto gera uma motivação extraordinária na gestante. Os resultados e a relação custo-efetividade das intervenções são melhores neste grupo do que na população em geral. Os ganhos extrapolam os benefícios à saúde da mulher, pois permitem também o desenvolvimento de um feto mais saudável. O conhecimento das peculiaridades do tabagismo durante a gestação é fundamental para uma abordagem direcionada e com maior probabilidade de sucesso. Este trabalho de revisão tem o objetivo de ressaltar a extensão dos malefícios do fumo, tanto para a mulher gestante quanto para seu feto, e estimular o uso de técnicas apropriadas para a suspensão do tabagismo nesta população.<br>Pregnancy presents a special opportunity to promote smoking cessation. Concern for the health of the fetus can be extraordinarily motivating for the pregnant woman. Results and cost-effectiveness of antismoking interventions are better for this group than for the general population, and the advantages exceed the benefits to the health of the mother alone, since they also allow for the development of a healthy fetus. Knowledge of the peculiarities of smoking during pregnancy is fundamental to developing a directed approach, which increases the probability of success. This review investigates the extent of the harmful effects that smoking has on pregnant women and fetuses alike and advocates the use of appropriate techniques to encourage pregnant women to stop smoking

Toward Optimal Screening Strategies for Older Women: Costs, Benefits, and Harms of Breast Cancer Screening by Age, Biology, and Health Status

CONTEXT: Optimal ages of breast cancer screening cessation remain uncertain. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate screening policies based on age and quartiles of life expectancy (LE). DESIGN AND POPULATION: We used a stochastic model with proxies of age-dependent biology to evaluate the incremental U.S. societal costs and benefits of biennial screening from age 50 until age 70, 79, or lifetime. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Discounted incremental costs per life years saved (LYS). RESULTS: Lifetime screening is expensive ($151,434 per LYS) if women have treatment and survival comparable to clinical trials (idealized); stopping at age 79 costs$82,063 per LYS. This latter result corresponds to costs associated with an LE of 9.5 years at age 79, a value expected for 75% of 79-year-olds, about 50% of 80-year-olds, and 25% of 85-year-olds. Using actual treatment and survival patterns, screening benefits are greater, and lifetime screening of all women might be considered ($114,905 per LYS), especially for women in the top 25$50,643 per LYS, life expectancy of∼7 years at age 90). CONCLUSIONS: If all women receive idealized treatment, the benefits of mammography beyond age 79 are too low relative to their costs to justify continued screening. However, if treatment is not ideal, extending screening beyond age 79 could be considered, especially for women in the top 25% of life expectancy for their age