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Risk factors for ASD : Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Shanghai, China: A Population-based Case-control

Yuanyuan Lin1, Guanghai Wang2,3, You Yang1

  • 1Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
|May 20, 2022
PubMed

Insights

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk factors include male sex, birth anoxia, artificial feeding, maternal stress, pregnancy complications, and higher paternal education. These findings aid in understanding and potentially mitigating ASD development.

Area of Science:

  • Neurodevelopmental Disorders
  • Pediatric Health
  • Genetics and Environment

Background:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) presents a significant global health challenge, impacting individuals, families, and society.
  • Understanding the multifactorial etiology of ASD is crucial for developing effective interventions and support systems.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific risk factors associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in a large cohort of Chinese children.
  • To identify key demographic, perinatal, and maternal factors linked to ASD diagnosis.

Main Methods:

  • A case-control study design was employed, analyzing data from 74,252 children aged 3-12 years in Shanghai, China.
  • Children were recruited from diverse educational settings, including general and special education schools.
  • ASD diagnosis was confirmed using DSM-5 criteria, with statistical analyses controlling for confounding variables.

Main Results:

  • Significant risk factors identified for ASD included male sex, perinatal anoxia or asphyxia, and artificial feeding.
  • Adverse maternal psychological status during pregnancy and pregnancy complications were also strongly associated with ASD.
  • Higher paternal education emerged as a notable risk factor, even after adjusting for other variables.

Conclusions:

  • Several perinatal, maternal, and socioeconomic factors are significantly associated with the risk of developing ASD.
  • These findings highlight the importance of considering a broad range of potential risk factors in ASD etiology.
  • Further research can explore the mechanisms underlying these associations to inform prevention and early intervention strategies.

Keywords:
Autism spectrum disorderCase-controlPre- and peri-natal risk factors

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