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Prevalence of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) among Children Adopted from Eastern European Countries: Russia
Joan Colom1,2, Lidia Segura-García1,2, Adriana Bastons-Compta2,3
1Program on Substance Abuse, Public Health Agency of Catalonia, Department of Health, Generalitat de Catalunya, 08005 Barcelona, Spain.
Insights
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) affects 50% of internationally adopted children from high-risk regions. Early diagnosis is crucial for these neurodevelopmental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Pediatric Health
- Public Health
Background:
- Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a primary cause of neurodevelopmental disorders.
- Internationally adopted children from high-alcohol-consumption countries face increased FASD risk.
- Diagnostic challenges arise from limited expertise and confounding factors like abandonment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain the prevalence of FASD in internationally adopted children.
- To evaluate clinical and historical indicators of FASD in this population.
Main Methods:
- Study included 162 children aged 8–24 years, adopted from Russia and Ukraine.
- Children were assessed for clinical and historical features indicative of FASD.
- Diagnostic criteria for FASD, including FAS, partial FAS, ARBD, and ARND, were applied.
Main Results:
- 50% (81 of 162) of the evaluated children met FASD diagnostic criteria.
- Specific diagnoses included Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (20.4%), partial FAS (17.2%), ARBD (1.2%), and ARND (11.1%).
- Many children without confirmed alcohol exposure showed FASD-like manifestations.
Conclusions:
- At least 50% of high-risk adoptees from Eastern Europe exhibit FASD-associated signs.
- Findings align with previous research and orphanage data, highlighting significant prevalence.
- This underscores the need for increased awareness and diagnostic support for FASD in adopted children.
Abstract:
Fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) is a leading cause of neurodevelopmental disorders. Children adopted internationally from countries where alcohol consumption during pregnancy is very high are at greater risk for FASD. Lack of expertise in diagnosing FASD and mixed neurodevelopmental and behavioral signs due to abandonment complicate a timely diagnosis. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of FASD in adopted children. Children between the ages of 8 and 24 adopted from Russia and Ukraine were evaluated for clinical and historical features of FASD. Of the 162 children evaluated, 81 (50%) met FASD diagnostic criteria. Thirty-three (20.4%) children had fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 28 (17.2%) had partial FAS, 2 (1.2%) had alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD) and 18 (11.1%) had alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND). Of the 81 children in which fetal alcohol exposure could not be confirmed, many had manifestations that would have established a diagnosis of FASD if a history of maternal alcohol consumption was confirmed. In a population of children with a high risk of prenatal alcohol exposure (adoptees from Eastern European countries), at least 50% showed manifestations associated with FASD. The reported prevalence in this study is in line with the results obtained in a previous study as well as in orphanages of origin.
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