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Association of Perinatal Risk Factors with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Darios Getahun1, Michael J Fassett2, Morgan R Peltier3

  • 1Department of Research and Evaluation, Kaiser Permanente Southern California, Pasadena, California.

American Journal of Perinatology
|January 19, 2017
PubMed

Insights

Pregnancy complications like antepartum and intrapartum issues are linked to a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in children. Early identification of these pregnancy risks may aid in early ASD screening and intervention.

Area of Science:

  • Perinatal health
  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) research

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
  • Identifying risk factors for ASD is crucial for early intervention.
  • Perinatal factors represent a potential area of investigation for ASD etiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between perinatal complications and the risk of developing autism spectrum disorders (ASD).
  • To quantify the risk of ASD associated with antepartum and intrapartum complications.
  • To explore the combined effect of antepartum and intrapartum complications on ASD risk.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective cohort study design.
  • Inclusion of 594,638 children born between 1991 and 2009.
  • Utilized medical records for exposure assessment and DSM-IV criteria for ASD diagnosis.
  • Employed multivariable Cox regression to calculate hazard ratios (HRs).

Main Results:

  • Children diagnosed with ASD showed a higher likelihood of exposure to perinatal complications (HR=1.15).
  • Antepartum complications (HR=1.22) and intrapartum complications (HR=1.10) were individually associated with increased ASD risk.
  • The presence of both antepartum and intrapartum complications significantly elevated ASD risk (HR=1.44).

Conclusions:

  • Exposure to antepartum or intrapartum complications during pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of ASD in offspring.
  • Pregnancy complications may serve as indicators for identifying children who could benefit from early ASD screening.
  • This research highlights the importance of monitoring and managing pregnancy complications for potential neurodevelopmental outcomes.

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