MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS OF DETERMINANTS OF FETAL GROWTH-RETARDATION

Objective: To analyse the relative effect of the risk factors related to fetal growth retardation (FGR) in the central area of Spain. Study design: This is a case-control survey of 370 full-term gestations. Of the 370 women, 185 were diagnosed with intrauterine growth retardation , and 185 were in the normal group. All came from a central region of Spain. We took into account 25 possible risk factors. Results: In the FGR group we found 12 risk factors with statistical significance in th e univariate analysis (tobacco, drugs, low pre-pregnancy weight, low m aternal height, little gestational weight gain, excessive physical act ivity during pregnancy, low socioeconomic status, low educational leve l, unmarried, urinary infection, mother's haematological changes, and previous infertility). After the multiple logistic regression analysis , five factors were shown to exist as independent risks (tobacco: OR, 23.50; 95% CI, 3.01-183.18; P < 0.01; low pre-pregnancy weight: OR, 4. 01; 95% CI, 2.14-7.51; P < 0.001; low socioeconomic status: OR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.72-4.90; P < 0.001; little gestational weight gain: OR, 2.52 ; 95% CI, 1.21-5.22; P < 0.05; and urinary infection: OR, 3.83; 95% CI , 1.49-9.87; P < 0.01). Conclusions: (i) Tobacco, low pre-pregnancy we ight and low socioeconomic status are the three main cause-effect fact ors of relative importance in our sanitary zone for FGR. (ii) Dispropo rtionate FGR is related more to older mothers and maternal previous il lness than to the proportionate FGR.