Suppose that an article was published on the relationship between caffeine consumption during pregnancy and the risk of low birth weight. Caffeine is in a wide variety of beverages, foods, and drugs, including coffee, tea, and colas. Suppose that the following statements were taken from the introduction and results section of this article. State which of Hill's guidelines is supported by each of the statements in question 3. For example, statement A supports Hill's guideline on analogy.
b. Caffeine exposure during pregnancy could have a harmful effect because caffeine may interfere with cell division, metabolism, and growth.
c. Several animal studies have shown an association between caffeine and lower fetal weight.
d. Seven previously published epidemiologic studies of caffeine intake during pregnancy have shown an increased risk of offspring with low birth weight among women who consumed high levels of caffeine.
e. In the current study, the risk of low birth weight increased as caffeine consumption increased. Compared with women who did not consume any caffeine during pregnancy, women who had low caffeine consumption had a 40% increased risk of giving birth to an infant with low birth weight, women who had moderate caffeine consumption had a 90% increased risk, and women who had high caffeine consumption had a 150% increased risk.
Source: Aschengrau and Seage (Chapter 15, Q4, pg. 414)
