Maternal Prepregnancy BMI and Risk of Cerebral Palsy in Offspring

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the association between maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and risk of cerebral palsy (CP) in offspring. METHODS: The study population consisted of 188 788 children in the Mothers and Babies in Norway and Denmark CP study, using data from 2 population-based, prospective birth cohorts: the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study and the Danish National Birth Cohort. Prepregnancy BMI was classified as underweight (BMI <18.5), lower normal weight (BMI 18.5–22.9), upper normal weight (BMI 23.0–24.9), overweight (BMI 25.0–29.9), and obese (BMI ≥30). CP diagnoses were obtained from the national CP registries. Associations between maternal prepregnancy BMI and CP in offspring were investigated by using log-binomial regression models. RESULTS: The 2 cohorts had 390 eligible cases of CP (2.1 per 1000 live-born children). Compared with mothers in the lower normal weight group, mothers in the upper normal group had a 40% excess risk of having a child with CP (relative risk [RR], 1.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03–1.78). Excess risk was 60% (RR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.21–2.01) for overweight mothers and 60% (RR, 1.55; 95% CI 1.11–2.18) for obese mothers. The risk of CP increased ∼4% for each unit increase in BMI (RR, 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02–1.06). Estimates changed little with adjustment for mother’s occupational status, age, and smoking habits. CONCLUSIONS: Higher prepregnancy maternal BMI was associated with increased risk of CP in offspring.