Gestational Age at Birth and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Alberta, Canada

Leavey, Anna; Zwaigenbaum, Lonnie; Heavner, Karyn; Burstyn, Igor

doi:10.1016/j.jpeds.2012.07.040

Cited by 56 publications

(44 citation statements)

References 41 publications

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“…Prematurity and low birth weight are considered to be risk factors for ASD (11)(12)(13)(14)(15)(16)(17). Two recent studies even found a gradual increased risk of traits of ASD with shorter gestation (18,19). Screening studies in early childhood revealed that features of ASD have a disproportionally higher prevalence in the preterm compared to the general population (20)(21)(22)(23).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extremely Preterm Born Children at Very High Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Verhaeghe

Dereu

Warreyn

et al. 2015

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev

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This study aimed to provide a more comprehensive picture of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in a geographic cohort of extremely preterm born adolescents by using established diagnostic instruments in addition to screening instruments. 53 participants passed a screening procedure with two screening instruments and a diagnostic evaluation with a semistructured assessment and a parent interview. 28% of the adolescents had a community based clinical diagnosis of ASD. When research diagnoses were also taken into account, this rate increased to 40%. Intellectual disability, language impairment and behavioural difficulties are characteristic for these children with ASD. This study is to our knowledge the first to use ASDspecific diagnostic instruments to confirm ASD diagnoses in extremely preterm born children in early adolescence. The study expands findings of previous research and raises the need for follow-up into late childhood and early adolescence.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Extremely Preterm Born Children at Very High Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Verhaeghe

Dereu

Warreyn

et al. 2015

Child Psychiatry Hum Dev

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“…Kuzniewicz et al16 found that ASD was approximately three times more prevalent in infants born before 27 weeks of gestation compared with term infants and that each 1-week reduction in gestation was associated with further increases in the risk of ASD. Leavey et al17 also observed a gradual increase in ASD risk linked to shorter gestation times, which was especially apparent for cutoffs between 29 weeks and 37 weeks. The results were not affected by sex or measures of fetal growth.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Comparison of three screening tests for autism in preterm children with birth weights less than 1,500 grams

Dudová

Marková

Kašparová

et al. 2014

NDT

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BackgroundPreterm children seem to be at increased risk for autism spectrum disorders (ASD).MethodsParents of 157 children with birth weights less than 1,500 g (age 2 years, corrected for prematurity; 88 boys, 69 girls) completed screening questionnaires. The screening battery included the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT), Communication and Symbolic Behavior Scales Developmental Profile Infant-Toddler Checklist (CSBS-DP-ITC), and the Infant/Toddler Sensory Profile (ITSP). Children with disabilities were excluded. All children who screened positive on any of the screening tools were subsequently assessed by clinical examination including the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule.ResultsFifty-six children (35.7%) screened positive on at least one of the parental screening questionnaires. Of the 56 children who tested positive, 33 participated in the detailed clinical follow-up assessment. A diagnosis of ASD was confirmed in 13 of the 33 children. The ASD prevalence was 9.7% of the sample. Analysis of children with and without an ASD diagnosis found significant differences relative to gestational age (26.9 weeks vs 28.3 weeks, P=0.033) and length of the stay in hospital (89.5 days vs 75.4 days, P=0.042). The screening tool with the most positive results was CSBS-DP-ITC (42 positive screens [PS]), followed by M-CHAT (28 PS), and ITSP (22 PS). Differences in the frequency of PS among the tests were significant (P=0.008). CSBS-DP-ITC had the highest sensitivity (0.846), followed by M-CHAT (0.692) and ITSP (0.462).ConclusionOur results indicate a higher prevalence of autism in children with birth weights <1,500 g at 2 years of age compared to the general population prevalence. The ASD diagnosis was associated with shorter gestation times and longer hospital stays. Our findings support the simultaneous use of more than one screening tests in order to increase screening sensitivity.

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“…mutations and high heritability of such mutations (see Croen et al 2007;Sandin et al 2016). Other risk factors of ASD studied include, but are not limited to, (genetic) causes of infertility, socioeconomic status, and perinatal risk factors such as preterm labor and low birth weight, (e.g., Giza et al 2010;Kong et al 2012;Leavy et al 2013;Leslie 2004;Shimada et al 2012;Schieve et al 2014;Vierck and Silverman 2015). Many researchers studying ASD epidemiology agree that a combination of environmental and genetic risk factors likely contributes to the increased incidence of ASD (see Chaste and Leboyer 2012;Croen et al 2007;Hallmayer et al 2011;Kong et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders: Influences of Advanced Parental Age and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology

Kamowski-Shakibai

Kollia

Magaldi

2017

Adv Neurodev Disord

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Research suggests that two prenatal factors, advanced parental age and use of assisted reproductive technology (ART), may independently increase the likelihood for the development of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other neurodevelopmental disorders. Our study evaluated the effect of advanced maternal and paternal ages (i.e., ages 35 and over) at the time of conception with and without the use of ART on the incidence of ASD and communication disorders (CD). We hypothesized that advanced parental age would be the strongest independent risk factor for the incidence of ASD and/or CD in offspring compared to younger parental age and use of ART. Information on 122 children was obtained through confidential survey. Parental ages at time of conception, diagnoses, use of ART, and infertility were considered. Results indicated that the risk of having a child with a CD increased significantly with either advanced maternal or paternal age. The risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD and/or CD was significantly higher for couples of advanced age, and the risk was significantly decreased for younger couples. Mothers of advanced age used ART at a significantly higher rate; however, this risk of having a child diagnosed with ASD and/or CD was not increased. Identification of risk factors (particularly combinations of risk factors) is essential for early detection of ASD and CD. The findings of our study, combined with other epidemiological data, may help to guide the development of prenatal screening tools and procedures. Implications are discussed.

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Gestational Age at Birth and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Alberta, Canada

Cited by 56 publications

References 41 publications

Extremely Preterm Born Children at Very High Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Extremely Preterm Born Children at Very High Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Comparison of three screening tests for autism in preterm children with birth weights less than 1,500 grams

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders: Influences of Advanced Parental Age and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology

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Gestational Age at Birth and Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Alberta, Canada

Cited by 56 publications

References 41 publications

Extremely Preterm Born Children at Very High Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Extremely Preterm Born Children at Very High Risk for Developing Autism Spectrum Disorder

Comparison of three screening tests for&nbsp;autism in preterm children with birth weights less than 1,500 grams

Autism Spectrum Disorders and Communication Disorders: Influences of Advanced Parental Age and Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology

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Comparison of three screening tests for autism in preterm children with birth weights less than 1,500 grams