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Advanced Parental Age and Risk of Positive Autism Spectrum Disorders Screening
Leila Manzouri1, Sepideh Yousefian2, Ali Keshtkari3
1Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Yasuj University of Medical Sciences, Yasuj, Iran.
Insights
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) screening in toddlers aged 16-30 months identified a prevalence of 1 in 125. Advanced parental age, particularly mothers 35+ and fathers 40+, significantly increased ASD risk.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Public Health
Background:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a lifelong neurodevelopmental condition impacting child quality of life.
- Early screening and intervention in toddlers (16-30 months) are crucial for better outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To screen for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in toddlers aged 16-30 months in southwest Iran.
- To identify potential risk factors associated with ASD in this age group.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 1504 mother-child pairs in Yasuj, Iran.
- ASD screening utilized the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised with Follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F).
- Demographic data, including parental age, were collected.
Main Results:
- The estimated ASD prevalence was 80 per 10,000 (1 in 125).
- Maternal age of 35 years or older (OR=11.65) and paternal age of 40 years or older (OR=19.64) were significant predictors of ASD.
- Low, moderate, and high ASD risk was observed in 96.2%, 3.6%, and 0.2% of screened children, respectively.
Conclusions:
- Delayed childbearing and increasing parental age are associated with a higher risk of ASD.
- Public awareness regarding the link between advanced parental age and ASD risk is necessary.
Background:
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a life -long neurodevelopmental disorder and significantly influences the quality of life in children. The screening of ASD in children aged between 16-30 months to early detection and early intervention for better prognosis.
Methods:
This cross-sectional study was conducted in the southwest of Iran (Yasuj) with dominant Lore ethnicity in 2017. A total of 1504 mother- child pairs with children aged between 16-30 months were selected through simple random sampling from the integrated national health system as the framework. ASD screening was implemented using the Modified checklist for autism in toddlers- revised, with follow-up interview (M-CHAT-R/F). Demographic data such as sex of children, and parental age at their time of pregnancy were collected for all children.
Results:
Risk of ASD was low, moderate and high in 1447 (96.2%), 54 (3.6%) and 3 (0.2%) in screening, respectively. The estimated rate of ASD prevalence was 80 per 10000 (12 out of 1504) or 1 in 125. Mother's age ≥35 (P value = 0.002, OR = 11.65, CI95%: 2.49-54.35) and father's age ≥40 (P value = 0.0001, OR = 19.64, CI95%: 4.89-78.82) were predicting factors of ASD in toddlers aged 16-30 months.
Conclusions:
Given that, increasing the age of marriage in Iran and recent trend towards delayed childbearing; children born to older parents are at a higher risk for having ASD. So, increasing the public awareness is necessary.
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