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Gastrointestinal Symptoms in 2- to 5-Year-Old Children in the Study to Explore Early Development
Ann M Reynolds1, Gnakub N Soke2,3, Katherine R Sabourin4
1University of Colorado, School of Medicine, 13123 East 16th Ave, B-140, Aurora, CO, 80045, USA. ann.reynolds@childrenscolorado.org.
Insights
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) more frequently than typically developing children. GIS in children are linked to increased behavioral and sleep issues, impacting overall well-being.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Gastroenterology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) are frequently reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Understanding the prevalence of GIS in ASD compared to other developmental conditions is crucial for effective management.
- Parental reports are a key source of information regarding GIS in young children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate and compare the prevalence of parent-reported GIS in preschool-aged children with ASD, other developmental delays (DD), and the general population (POP).
- To investigate the association between GIS and behavioral/sleep problems across these groups.
- To explore the relationship between GIS and developmental regression within the ASD group.
Main Methods:
- A multi-site study involving preschool-aged children.
- Comparison groups included children with ASD (n=672), other DD (n=938), and POP (n=851).
- Data collection involved parent-reported assessments of GIS, behavioral issues, sleep problems, and autism severity.
Main Results:
- Children with ASD showed significantly higher odds of GIS compared to both POP and DD groups, even after adjusting for covariates.
- GIS were associated with increased behavioral and sleep problems across all study groups.
- Within the ASD group, developmental regression correlated with higher GIS prevalence, but autism severity did not differ based on GIS presence.
Conclusions:
- Preschool-aged children with ASD exhibit a substantially higher prevalence of GIS.
- The presence of GIS in children, regardless of diagnosis, is linked to co-occurring behavioral and sleep disturbances.
- These findings underscore the importance of addressing GIS in the clinical management of children with ASD and other developmental delays.
Abstract:
Gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) are commonly reported in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This multi-site study evaluated the prevalence of GIS in preschool-aged children with ASD/(n = 672), with other developmental delays (DD)/(n = 938), and children in the general population (POP)/(n = 851). After adjusting for covariates, children in the ASD group were over 3 times more likely to have parent-reported GIS than the POP group, and almost 2 times more likely than the DD group. Children with GIS from all groups had more behavioral and sleep problems. Within the ASD group, children with developmental regression had more GIS than those without; however, there were no differences in autism severity scores between children with and without GIS. These findings have implications for clinical management.
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