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Neonatal jaundice in association with autism spectrum disorder and developmental disorder
Christina Cordero1, Laura A Schieve2, Lisa A Croen3
1Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. c.cordero@med.miami.edu.
Insights
Neonatal jaundice is linked to autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disorders (DD) in premature infants born between 35-37 weeks gestation. This association was not found in infants born at 38 weeks or later.
Area of Science:
- Neonatal care
- Developmental pediatrics
- Public health
Background:
- Neonatal jaundice is a common condition in newborns.
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and developmental disorders (DD) are complex neurodevelopmental conditions.
- Understanding potential risk factors for ASD and DD is crucial for early intervention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between neonatal jaundice and the risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- To examine the relationship between neonatal jaundice and non-ASD developmental disorders (DD).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from the Study to Explore Early Development (SEED), a US-based case-control study (2007-2011).
- Classification of children aged 2-5 years into ASD, DD, or control groups.
- Identification of neonatal jaundice from medical records and maternal interviews, with subsequent regression analysis.
Main Results:
- A significant interaction was observed between gestational age and neonatal jaundice.
- Neonatal jaundice was associated with an increased risk of ASD in infants born at 35-37 weeks gestation (aOR=1.83).
- Similar associations were found for developmental disorders (DD) in preterm infants; no significant association was observed for infants born at 38 weeks or later.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal jaundice may be a risk factor for ASD and DD, particularly in preterm infants.
- The timing and severity of neonatal jaundice require further investigation in relation to ASD and DD.
- These findings highlight the importance of considering gestational age in the context of neonatal jaundice and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Objective:
To examine the association between neonatal jaundice and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and non-ASD developmental disorder (DD).
Study Design:
We analyzed data from the Study to Explore Early Development, a US multisite, case-control study conducted from 2007 to 2011. Developmental assessment classified children aged 2-5 years into: ASD (n = 636), DD (n = 777), or controls (POP; n = 926). Neonatal jaundice (n = 1054) was identified from medical records and maternal interviews. We examined associations between neonatal jaundice and ASD and DD using regression models to obtain adjusted odds ratios (aOR).
Results:
Our results showed interaction between gestational age and neonatal jaundice. Neonatal jaundice was associated with ASD at 35-37 weeks (aOR = 1.83, 95%CI 1.05, 3.19), but not ≥38 weeks gestation (aOR = 0.97, 95%CI 0.76, 1.24). Similar results were observed with DD.
Conclusions:
Further exploration of timing and severity of neonatal jaundice and ASD/DD is warranted.
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