Autism spectrum disorder and obstetric optimality: a twin study and meta-analysis of sibling studies
Gómez-Vallejo, M. and Leoni, M. and Ronald, Angelica and Colvert, E. and Happé, F. and Bolton, P. (2021) Autism spectrum disorder and obstetric optimality: a twin study and meta-analysis of sibling studies. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry 62 (11), pp. 1353-1362. ISSN 0021-9630.
|
Text
46033.pdf - Author's Accepted Manuscript Download (428kB) | Preview |
Abstract
Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder with a strong genetic basis. Recent studies have suggested that its aetiology is also influenced by environmental factors. Some of the most examined environmental factors are obstetric complications. However, the results are inconsistent. Methods We aimed to explore the association between obstetric complications and autism in a population-based twin sample using the Obstetric Enquiry Scale (OES), a scale that measures the presence or absence of pre-, peri- and neonatal factors. Additionally, we report the meta-analytic results for obstetrical factors reported in previously published sibling studies. Results: Our study included 115 cases pairs and 62 controls pairs and showed that children with autism and their unaffected co-twins present significantly more obstetric complications than controls (ASD vs. controls β 1.26, CI 95% 1.11–1.40 p < .001; unaffected co-twin vs. controls β 1.20, 95% CI 1.07–1.36 p < .003). However, we did not find statistically significant differences between children with ASD and their unaffected co-twins (β .96, 95% CI 0.85–1.09, p 0.55). Meta-analysis demonstrated that maternal hypertension (RR 1.35, CI 95% 1.23–1.48), uterine bleeding (RR 1.20 CI 95% 1.01–1.42) and exposure to antibiotic during pregnancy (1.11 CI 95% 1.00–1.22) increase risk of ASD. Conclusions: This study confirms that children with ASD and their unaffected twins show more obstetric complications than controls. However, these complications do not distinguish between ASD twins and their unaffected co-twins. In addition, the meta-analysis showed little influence of birth factors on ASD which suggests a shared familial liability for both obstetric complications and autism, rather than a causal association.
Metadata
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This is the peer reviewed version of the article, which has been published in final form at the link above. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving. |
| School: | Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Science > School of Psychological Sciences |
| Depositing User: | Angelica Ronald |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Nov 2021 17:32 |
| Last Modified: | 02 Aug 2023 18:12 |
| URI: | https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/46033 |
Statistics
Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.
Archive Staff Only (login required)
 |
Edit/View Item |