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The prevalence and profile of autism in individuals born preterm: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Catherine Laverty1, Andrew Surtees2,3, Rory O'Sullivan4

  • 1School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK. cml704@student.bham.ac.uk.

Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders
|September 22, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Preterm birth is linked to higher autism rates. This meta-analysis found autism characteristics in 20% of preterm individuals using screening tools, and 6% using diagnostic assessments.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental disorders
  • Perinatal medicine
  • Developmental psychology

Background:

  • Preterm birth (<37 weeks) is associated with adverse developmental outcomes.
  • Preterm populations exhibit heightened rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
  • Prematurity may increase the risk of neurodevelopmental impairments.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize existing literature on autism characteristics in preterm populations.
  • To calculate pooled prevalence estimates for autism in individuals born preterm.
  • To compare autism rates in preterm versus general populations.

Main Methods:

  • A meta-analysis was conducted following PRISMA guidelines.
  • Literature search across five databases until December 2020.
  • Included 52 studies, categorized by assessment method (screening tools vs. diagnostic assessments).

Main Results:

  • Pooled prevalence of autism characteristics was 20% (screening tools) and 6% (diagnostic assessments).
  • Individuals born preterm had 3.3 times higher odds of an autism diagnosis compared to the general population.
  • Analysis included 10,900 retrieved papers, with 52 selected for final analysis.

Conclusions:

  • Autism characteristics are significantly more prevalent in preterm individuals than in the general population.
  • Clinical monitoring and support are crucial for individuals born preterm.
  • Findings underscore the neurodevelopmental impact of prematurity.
Abstract

Keywords:
AutismLow birth weightMeta-analysisPrematurityPreterm

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