Autism spectrum disorder in a term birth neonatal intensive care unit population

Nonspecific perinatal risk factors have been revealed to be associated with the development of autism spectrum disorder. However, term at-risk infants, as a distinct population, are underrepresented in the literature. This study examines the incidence and neonatal risk factors for autism spectrum disorder in term neonatal intensive care unit survivors.

We performed a retrospective analysis from a single university-practice database of neonates admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit and followed by a single pediatric neurologist. Term infants (≥ 37 weeks), born between 1991 and 2011, with at least 2 years (or 1 year if found to be neurologically normal) of follow-up were included. Principle outcomes were autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, and epilepsy.

One hundred eighty infants were included from a database of 564 neonates. Twelve (6.6%) developed autism spectrum disorder, 53 (29.4%) cerebral palsy, 77 (42.7%) global developmental delay, and 47 (26.1%) epilepsy. Seventy-one (39.4%) developed no adverse outcomes. Nine patients with autism spectrum disorder (75%) were diagnosed with at least one other adverse outcome. No neonatal or perinatal variables were evident to be significantly associated with later autism spectrum disorder.

In term neonatal intensive care unit survivors, autism spectrum disorder occurs at a greater frequency than in the general population and often develops alongside comorbid conditions. This highlights the importance of screening term neonatal intensive care unit survivors for autism spectrum disorder, particularly when comorbidities are present.