Prenatal Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) Use and the Risk of Autism and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Among
Shan Luo1, Qiaowa Gong1, Yujie Ai1
1Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, School of Clinical Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China.
Importance:
Paracetamol (acetaminophen) is the first-line analgesic and antipyretic recommended globally during pregnancy. Observational studies have reported associations with increased risks of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in offspring, raising public and clinical concern; however, these findings may be substantially confounded by unmeasured familial factors.
Objectives:
To assess the association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and risk of ASD and ADHD in offspring using a sibling-matched study design to control for familial confounding.
Design, Setting, And Participants:
This population-based cohort study, conducted from January 1, 2001, to December 31, 2023, in Hong Kong, used deidentified electronic health records within a triangulation framework. From an initial cohort of 708 020 mother-child pairs (approximately 43.3% with prenatally paracetamol exposure), sibling-matched cohorts were constructed of children from families with discordant prenatal paracetamol exposure and sufficient follow-up (≥2 years for ASD and ≥5 years for ADHD). Data analysis was conducted from October 2, 2025, to March 24, 2026.
Exposure:
Prenatal paracetamol exposure, identified from electronic dispensing records (British National Formulary [BNF], section 4.7.1) with data on drug name, strength, dosage, and prescription dates.
Main Outcomes And Measures:
Incident diagnoses per the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, for ASD (code 299) or for ADHD (code 314) or a prescription for ADHD-specific medication licensed in Hong Kong (methylphenidate, atomoxetine, or lisdexamfetamine [BNF, section 4.4]).
Results:
The final cohorts comprised 124 333 children for ASD analysis (mean [SD] age, 9.3 [4.7] years; 61 775 females [49.7%] and 62 558 males [50.3%]) and 97 285 for ADHD analysis (mean [SD] age, 7.6 [4.2] years; 48 455 females [49.8%], 48 830 [50.2%]). In the sibling-matched analyses, prenatal paracetamol exposure was not associated with the risk of ASD (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 1.00; 95% CI, 0.91-1.11) or ADHD (aHR, 1.01; 95% CI, 0.93-1.08). Null associations were consistent across exposure timing, cumulative dose, and usage patterns (sporadic, intermittent, persistent), and were robust in sensitivity analyses. However, positive associations were observed in conventional cohort analyses, and importantly, also in negative control analyses of prepregnancy exposure for ASD (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.08-1.17) and ADHD (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.20-1.28).
Conclusions And Relevance:
In this population-based cohort study, a sibling-matched analysis found no evidence of an association between prenatal paracetamol exposure and the risk of ASD or ADHD in offspring. The positive signals observed in conventional studies are likely attributable to residual familial confounding. These findings provide important reassurance regarding the safety of indicated paracetamol use during pregnancy.
Related Concept Videos
01:30Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Diagnostic Criteria and Symptoms
To diagnose ADHD, symptoms must manifest before age 12 and be evident across multiple settings.
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:07Teratogenicity