The Association between Prenatal Antibiotic Use and the Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders among Children: An Updated...

Area of Science:

• Perinatal health and developmental disorders
• Epidemiology of neurodevelopmental conditions

Background:

• Inconsistent findings exist regarding prenatal antibiotic use and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) risk.
• Understanding this relationship is crucial for maternal and child health guidelines.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a meta-analysis to resolve discrepancies in studies on prenatal antibiotic exposure and ASD risk.
• To provide a comprehensive assessment of the association between prenatal antibiotic use and ASD in children.

Main Methods:

• A systematic literature search was performed across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases.
• Random-effect models were used to calculate hazard ratios (HR) and odds ratios (OR), with publication bias assessed.
• Subgroup analyses examined trimester-specific effects, and study quality was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Main Results:

• The meta-analysis included 12 studies with over 5 million participants.
• Prenatal antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of ASD (HR: 1.08; 95% CI: 1.05, 1.12).
• Significant associations were found for each trimester of pregnancy, with no detected heterogeneity or publication bias.

Conclusions:

• A significant link exists between prenatal antibiotic use and elevated ASD risk, with a consistent, modest increase across all trimesters.
• Further research is needed to explore mechanisms, specific antibiotic classes, dosages, and timing.
• Longitudinal studies controlling for confounders are essential for causal inference and clinical recommendations.