E-cigarette use during late pregnancy not tied to increased risk of SGA birth among adolescents

• Prevalence Shifts:

Exclusive E-cigarette Use: Increased from 0.8% in 2016 to 4.1% in 2021.

Exclusive Cigarette Use: Decreased from 9.2% in 2017 to 3.2% in 2021.

Dual Use: Fluctuated between 0.6% and 1.6%.

• Sociodemographic Differences:

Ethnic Disparities: White pregnant adolescents had higher e-cigarette use rates compared to other racial groups.

Increasing Use: Particularly noticeable among adolescents of White ethnicity.

• Association with SGA Birth:

E-cigarette Use: No significant increase in the risk of SGA birth.

Cigarette Use: Showed a more than 2-fold higher risk of SGA birth compared to non-users.

Dual Use: Also associated with a higher risk, but not statistically significant.

The study implies a notable surge in e-cigarette use among pregnant adolescents, particularly among those identifying as White. While cigarette use demonstrated a clear association with increased risk of SGA birth, e-cigarette use during late pregnancy did not show a statistically significant correlation. However, the uncertainty surrounding this non-significant association suggests the need for further comprehensive research with larger sample sizes.

Reference:

Wen, X., Liu, L., Moe, A. A., Ormond, I. K., Shuren, C. C., Scott, I. N., Ozga, J. E., Stanton, C. A., Ruybal, A. L., Hart, J. L., Goniewicz, M. L., Lee, D., & Vargees, C. Use of E-cigarettes and cigarettes during late pregnancy among adolescents. JAMA Network Open, 6(12), e2347407. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2023.47407