Congenital Heart Disease and Autism: A Case-Control Study

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Cardiology
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Public Health

Background:

• Congenital heart disease (CHD) is linked to neurodevelopmental delays.
• The specific association between CHD and autism spectrum disorders (AuSD) requires further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the association between CHD and AuSD.
• To identify specific CHD lesions associated with a higher risk of developing AuSD.

Main Methods:

• A 1:3 case-control study utilized administrative data from the US Military Health System (2001-2013).
• Children with AuSD (cases) were matched with controls based on birth date, sex, and enrollment.
• Conditional logistic regression analyzed the association between CHD lesions and AuSD, adjusting for confounding factors.

Main Results:

• The study included 8,760 AuSD cases and 26,280 controls.
• Children with CHD showed increased odds of AuSD (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.10-1.59) after adjustments.
• Atrial septal defects (OR 1.72) and ventricular septal defects (OR 1.65) were significantly associated with higher AuSD odds.

Conclusions:

• Children diagnosed with CHD have a statistically significant increased risk of developing AuSD.
• Specific congenital heart conditions, namely atrial and ventricular septal defects, are linked to elevated AuSD risk.
• Findings can aid in counseling families with children diagnosed with CHD regarding potential neurodevelopmental outcomes.