Association of Autism with Maternal Infections, Perinatal and Other Risk Factors: A Case-Control Study

• Published in: Journal of autism and developmental disorders Vol. 48; no. 6; pp. 2010 - 2021
• Main Authors: Guisso, Dikran Richard, Saadeh, Fadi S., Saab, Dahlia, El Deek, Joud, Chamseddine, Sarah, El Hassan, Hadi Abou, Majari, Ghidaa, Boustany, Rose-Mary
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York Springer US 01.06.2018; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Applied Behavior Analysis; At Risk Persons; Autism; Autism Spectrum Disorder - diagnosis; Autism Spectrum Disorder - epidemiology; Autism Spectrum Disorder - genetics; Autism Spectrum Disorders; Behavioral Science and Psychology; Birth Order; Case Studies; Case-Control Studies; Child; Child and School Psychology; Child, Preschool; Childbirth & labor; Clinics; Consanguineous marriage; Consanguinity; Control Groups; Correlation; Diseases; Drug Use; Early Intervention; Environmental Influences; Family medical history; Female; Foreign Countries; Genetics; Health Care Costs; Health risk assessment; Humans; Independent Study; Infections; Labor complications; Lebanon - epidemiology; Male; Medical research; Medical screening; Mental Disorders; Mental Disorders - diagnosis; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - genetics; Meta Analysis; Mothers; Neurology; Neurosciences; Original Paper; Pediatrics; Perinatal Care - trends; Perinatal factors; Perinatal Influences; Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Physiological aspects; Postnatal Care - trends; Postpartum; Postpartum period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy complications; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - diagnosis; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - epidemiology; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious - genetics; Prenatal Influences; Psychiatry; Psychological Patterns; Psychology; Public Health; Risk; Risk Factors; Screening Tests; Sex Factors; Social Support Groups; Statistical Analysis; Young Adult; Lebanon; Autism; Consanguinity; Perinatal factors; Maternal infections; Risk factors
• ISSN: 0162-3257; 1573-3432; 1573-3432
• DOI: 10.1007/s10803-017-3449-x

This case-control study explores the association between pregnancy/birth complications and other factors with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in Lebanese subjects aged 2–18 years. Researchers interviewed 136 ASD cases from the American University of Beirut Medical Center Special Kids Clinic, and 178 controls selected by systematic digit dialing in the Greater-Beirut area. Male gender (Adjusted Odds Ratio [95% CI]: 3.9 [2.2–7.0]); postpartum feeding difficulties (2.5 [1.2–5.4]); maternal infections/complications during pregnancy (2.9 [1.5–5.5], 2.1 [1.1–3.9]); consanguinity (2.5 [1.0–6.0]); family history of psychiatric disorders (2.2 [1.1–4.4]) were risk factors for ASD. Being born first/second (0.52 [0.28–0.95]) and maternal psychological support during pregnancy (0.49 [0.27–0.89]) were negatively associated with ASD. Identifying ASD correlates is crucial for instigating timely screening and subsequent early intervention.