Aspirin, birthweight, and large-for-gestational-age neonates: a
secondary analysis of the ASPRE trial
Abstract
Objective: To investigate the effects of aspirin on the
distribution of birthweight and its impact on the rates of
large-for-gestational age (LGA) neonates. Design: Secondary
analysis of the Combined Multimarker Screening and Randomized Patient
Treatment with Aspirin for Evidence-based Preeclampsia Prevention
(ASPRE) trial. Setting: Thirteen hospitals in England, Spain,
Belgium, Greece, Italy, and Israel. Population: Participants of
the ASPRE trial at increased risk of preterm pre-eclampsia (PE) who had
a live birth. Methods: We compared the birthweight
distributions and the rates of LGA neonates between the trial groups.
Analyses were stratified according to the presence of pre-existing
diabetes mellitus and the development of pre-eclampsia, and logistic
regression was used to investigate independent predictors of LGA
neonates. Main Outcome Measures: Birthweight distribution and
rate of LGA neonates. Results: Among 1,571 singleton, live
neonates (777 from the aspirin group and 794 from the placebo group),
aspirin was associated with a shift in birthweight from below 2,500 to
between 2,500 and 4,000 grams, and birthweight percentile from below the
25 th to between the 25 th and 75
th percentiles, with no significant increase in LGA
neonates (5.5% vs. 6.2%, p=0.667). Logistic regression demonstrated a
significant interaction between treatment and pre-existing diabetes
(p-value 0.034), and a positive association between maternal weight and
LGA neonates (adjusted odds ratio 1.040, 95% confidence interval 1.030
– 1.051, p<0.001). Conclusions: Aspirin use is
associated with increased birthweight without increasing the rate of LGA
neonates. Among women with pre-existing diabetes, however, aspirin may
lead to a higher rate of LGA neonates.