Cannabis use during pregnancy linked to prematurity and smaller babies in French hospital data
In a French hospital cohort, recreational cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with increased rates of prematurity, small-for-gestational-age babies, and other adverse outcomes compared to tobacco-only users and controls.
Quick Facts
What This Study Found
Among 669 pregnancies analyzed (123 cannabis users, 191 tobacco-only, 355 controls), cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with increased voluntary interruption of pregnancy, at least one adverse event during pregnancy, at least one neonatal adverse event, prematurity, and small-for-gestational-age births. Cannabis users were younger (mean 25.5 years), had more psychiatric history (17.5%), and were more likely to have universal free healthcare coverage.
Key Numbers
123 cannabis ± tobacco users, 191 tobacco-only, 355 controls; cannabis users mean age 25.5 ± 5.7 years; BMI 22.8 ± 5.5; 17.5% psychiatric history; 18.2% universal free healthcare coverage
How They Did This
Retrospective analysis of data from the Poitiers University Hospital clinical data warehouse from 2010-2019. Logistic regression compared outcomes across three groups: cannabis with or without tobacco, tobacco alone, and controls.
Why This Research Matters
This study from a French hospital system provides European data on prenatal cannabis effects, complementing the predominantly North American literature and controlling for concurrent tobacco use.
The Bigger Picture
As cannabis normalization spreads globally, data from non-North American settings helps establish whether adverse pregnancy outcomes are consistent across different populations and healthcare systems.
What This Study Doesn't Tell Us
Retrospective design with data from a single hospital. Cannabis use likely underreported in medical records. Cannot fully separate cannabis effects from tobacco, socioeconomic factors, or psychiatric comorbidities.
Questions This Raises
- ?Are the adverse outcomes driven by cannabis itself, concurrent tobacco use, or socioeconomic factors?
- ?Would prospective studies with biological verification of exposure produce different results?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- Cannabis use associated with prematurity and small-for-gestational-age births
- Evidence Grade:
- Ten-year hospital cohort with regression analysis controlling for tobacco, but retrospective design and likely underreporting of cannabis use are limitations.
- Study Age:
- Published 2023 using 2010-2019 data
- Original Title:
- Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes Related to Recreational Cannabis Use during Pregnancy: Analysis of a Real-World Clinical Data Warehouse between 2010 and 2019.
- Published In:
- International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(17) (2023)
- Authors:
- Bouquet, Emilie(2), Blouin, Pascal, Pérault-Pochat, Marie-Christine(2), Carlier-Guérin, Caroline, Millot, Frédéric, Ricco, Jean-Baptiste, De Keizer, Joe, Pain, Stéphanie, Guétarni, Farid
- Database ID:
- RTHC-04429
Evidence Hierarchy
Looks back at existing records to find patterns.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked Questions
Does cannabis use during pregnancy affect birth outcomes?
In this French hospital study, cannabis use during pregnancy was associated with increased rates of prematurity, small-for-gestational-age babies, and other adverse pregnancy and neonatal events.
How did cannabis-using mothers differ from non-users?
Cannabis users were younger (average age 25.5), had lower pre-pregnancy BMI, more psychiatric history (17.5%), and were more likely to have universal free healthcare coverage.
Read More on RethinkTHC
Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-04429APA
Bouquet, Emilie; Blouin, Pascal; Pérault-Pochat, Marie-Christine; Carlier-Guérin, Caroline; Millot, Frédéric; Ricco, Jean-Baptiste; De Keizer, Joe; Pain, Stéphanie; Guétarni, Farid. (2023). Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes Related to Recreational Cannabis Use during Pregnancy: Analysis of a Real-World Clinical Data Warehouse between 2010 and 2019.. International journal of environmental research and public health, 20(17). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176686
MLA
Bouquet, Emilie, et al. "Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes Related to Recreational Cannabis Use during Pregnancy: Analysis of a Real-World Clinical Data Warehouse between 2010 and 2019.." International journal of environmental research and public health, 2023. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20176686
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Maternal, Fetal and Neonatal Outcomes Related to Recreationa..." RTHC-04429. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/bouquet-2023-maternal-fetal-and-neonatal
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.