Association between maternal smoking, gender, and cleft lip and palate.
INTRODUCTION
Cleft lip and/or palate (CL/P) represent the most common congenital anomalies of the face.


OBJECTIVE
To assess the relationship between maternal smoking, gender and CL/P.


METHODS
This is an epidemiological cross-sectional study. We interviewed 1519 mothers divided into two groups:


CASES
mothers of children with CL/P (n=843) and


CONTROLS
mothers of children without CL/P (n=676). All mothers were classified as smoker or non-smoker subjects during the first trimester of pregnancy. To determine an association among maternal smoking, gender, and CL/P, odds ratios were calculated and the adjustment was made by a logistic regression model.


RESULTS
An association between maternal smoking and the presence of cleft was observed. There was also a strong association between male gender and the presence of cleft (OR=3.51; 95% CI 2.83-4.37). By binary logistic regression analysis, it was demonstrated that both variables were independently associated with clefts. In a multivariate analysis, male gender and maternal smoking had a 2.5- and a 1.5-time greater chance of having a cleft, respectively.


CONCLUSION
Our findings are consistent with a positive association between maternal smoking during pregnancy and CL/P in male gender. The results support the importance of smoking prevention and introduction of cessation programs among women with childbearing potential.
['Martelli|Daniella Reis Barbosa|DR|', 'Coletta|Ricardo D|RD|', 'Oliveira|Eduardo A|EA|', 'Swerts|Mário Sérgio Oliveira|MS|', 'Rodrigues|Laíse A Mendes|LA|', 'Oliveira|Maria Christina|MC|', 'Martelli Júnior|Hercílio|H|']
D001938:Brazil D016022:Case-Control Studies D002971:Cleft Lip D002972:Cleft Palate D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies D005260:Female D006801:Humans D007231:Infant, Newborn D008297:Male D011247:Pregnancy D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects D012307:Risk Factors D012737:Sex Factors D012907:Smoking
Smoking Cleft lip Pregnancy Cleft palate Fenda labial Fenda palatina Gravidez Hábito de fumar