Association of medication-assisted treatment and short acting opioids with newborn head circumference and birth weight
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
12-12-2022
Institution/Department
Pediatrics
Journal Title
Journal of perinatology : official journal of the California Perinatal Association
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: We compared the association of methadone, buprenorphine, and short-acting opioid exposure with newborn head circumference (HC) and birth weight (BW), and evaluated gestational age (GA) as a mediator. STUDY DESIGN: We included newborns born 2013-2018 identified by neonatal abstinence syndrome diagnosis code (N = 572) and birthday-matched unexposed controls (N = 571). Linear regressions of opioid exposure with HC and BW controlled for tobacco, marijuana, cocaine, gabapentin, cesarean section, Medicaid, and newborn sex, with mediation analysis by GA. RESULT: Methadone was associated with 0.81 cm lower HC (95% CI = -1.22, -0.40) and 0.23 kg lower BW (95% CI = -0.35, -0.10) with approximately 24% and 41% mediated by GA, respectively. Buprenorphine and short acting opioids were not associated with HC or BW. CONCLUSION: Methadone exposed newborns have smaller HC and lower BW not fully attributable to younger GA, suggesting a direct effect of methadone on intrauterine growth. Exploration of potential developmental consequences of this is urgently needed.
Recommended Citation
Cutler AJ, Cox DF, Gabrielson SMB, Picarillo AP, Craig AK. Association of medication-assisted treatment and short acting opioids with newborn head circumference and birth weight [published online ahead of print, 2022 Dec 12]. J Perinatol. 2022;10.1038/s41372-022-01579-z. doi:10.1038/s41372-022-01579-z
