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Prenatal, perinatal and parental risk factors for autism spectrum disorder in China: a case- control study
Jia-Jia Yuan1,2,3,4, Ya-Nan Zhao5,6,7, Xing-Yu Lan1,2,3,4
1Department of Neurobiology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Insights
Environmental factors like birth asphyxia, breastfeeding difficulties, harsh parenting, and maternal fever significantly increase autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk. Understanding these modifiable factors is crucial for developing prevention strategies.
Area of Science:
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
- Environmental Epidemiology
- Child Psychology
Background:
- Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heritable neurodevelopmental disorder.
- Environmental risk factors are implicated in ASD development.
- Prenatal, perinatal, and parental factors are associated with increased ASD risk.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore prenatal, perinatal, and parenting risk factors in children with ASD in Beijing, China.
- To compare risk factors between children with ASD and typically developing (TD) children.
- To identify potential modifiable environmental factors for ASD prevention.
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 151 children with ASD and 151 TD children from Beijing.
- TD children were matched for age, sex, and maternal education.
- Evaluated 17 factors including maternal AQ scores, birth asphyxia, breastfeeding, parenting styles, and maternal fever during pregnancy.
Main Results:
- Birth asphyxia showed a >13-fold increased risk of ASD (AOR=13.42).
- Breastfeeding difficulties (AOR=3.46), low responding parenting (AOR=2.37), harsh parenting (AOR=3.42), and neglectful parenting (AOR=3.01) were associated with higher ASD risk.
- Maternal fever during pregnancy increased ASD risk (AOR=3.81).
Conclusions:
- Multiple environmental and parental factors are significantly associated with ASD risk.
- Modifiable factors such as parenting practices and maternal health during pregnancy warrant further investigation.
- Elucidating the role of these factors can inform targeted ASD prevention strategies.
Background:
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is heritable neurodevelopmental disorders (NDDs), but environmental risk factors have also been suggested to a play a role in its development. Prenatal, perinatal and parental factors have been associated with an increased risk of ASD in children. The aim of the present study was to explore the prenatal, perinatal, and parenting risk factors in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) from Beijing, China by comparing them with typically developing (TD) children.
Methods:
A sample of 151 ASD children's parents who from rehabilitation institutions in Beijing were enrolled in this study, and an additional 151 children from kindergartens in Beijing were recruited as a control group (child age: mean = 4.4 years). TD children were matched according to age, sex and maternal education. We explored the maternal AQ (Autism Spectrum Quotient) scores (mean:19.40-19.71, no significant difference between two groups) to referring the genetic baseline. This study evaluated 17 factors with unadjusted and adjusted analyses.
Results:
Birth asphyxia was associated with a more than a thirteen-fold higher risk of ASD (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 13.42). Breastfeeding difficulties were associated with a higher risk of ASD(AOR = 3.46). Parenting influenced the risk of ASD, with low responding (LR) and harsh or neglectful parenting associated with a higher risk of ASD in offspring (AOR = 2.37 for LR, AOR = 3.42 for harsh parenting and AOR = 3.01 for neglectful parenting). Maternal fever during pregnancy was associated with a higher risk of ASD in offspring (AOR = 3.81).
Conclusions:
Many factors were associated with ASD in offspring. Further assessment is needed to elucidate the role of modifiable environmental factors to inform prevention strategies.
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