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Gastrointestinal Problems in Chinese Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Kelly Y C Lai1, Patrick W L Leung2, Se Fong Hung1

  • 1Department of Psychiatry, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong.

Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment
|August 18, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience twice the rate of gastrointestinal symptoms, including constipation and abdominal migraine. ASD diagnosis is a key predictor, independent of other factors.

Area of Science:

  • Neurogastroenterology
  • Developmental Pediatrics
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Research

Background:

  • Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms are frequently observed in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • These symptoms may indicate a distinct subgroup with complex gut-brain interactions.
  • Understanding the prevalence and associated factors of GI issues in ASD is crucial for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence of gastrointestinal symptoms in Chinese children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
  • To identify factors associated with gastrointestinal symptoms in this population.

Main Methods:

  • A clinic-based sample of 107 children with ASD was compared to 249 typically developing children.
  • Participants were matched for age and gender.
  • Statistical analysis considered potential confounders like comorbidities, diet, and parental mental health.

Main Results:

  • Children with ASD were twice as likely to report gastrointestinal symptoms compared to controls.
  • Increased rates of constipation, abdominal migraine, and aerophagia were observed in the ASD group.
  • ASD diagnosis remained a significant predictor of GI symptoms, even after adjusting for confounders.

Conclusions:

  • Autism spectrum disorder with co-occurring gastrointestinal symptoms may represent a specific subgroup requiring further research.
  • These findings highlight the importance of addressing GI health in ASD management.
  • Further investigation into the gut-brain axis in ASD is warranted.
Abstract

Keywords:
Chineseautism spectrum disorderchildrengastrointestinal symptomssubgroup

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