Maternal and Neonatal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-control Study from Egypt

Overview

Journal PLoS One

Specialties General Medicine
Science

Date 2022 Jun 15

PMID 35704613

Authors

Ahmed Arafa

Omaima Mahmoud

Hisham Salah

Ahmed Ali Abdelmonem

Shaimaa Senosy

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Background: The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) has been increasing steadily in Egypt and worldwide. Detecting risk factors for ASD could help initiate screening and risk prevention approaches. Herein, this study aimed to detect several maternal and neonatal risk factors for ASD in Egypt.

Methods: In this case-control study, mothers of children with ASD who were visiting Beni-Suef University Hospital in Egypt (n = 268) were compared to mothers of children without ASD attending one primary school with a kindergarten (n = 504) regarding their preconception, conception, and postconception characteristics. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated to investigate the possible associations between the collected data and the odds of ASD.

Results: In the multivariable-adjusted models, urban residence: OR (95% CI) = 2.33 (1.60-3.38), relative father: 2.63 (1.74-3.96), history of diabetes: 5.98 (1.99-17.97), previous abortion: 2.47 (1.20-13.38), assisted fertility: 4.01 (1.20-13.38), family history of ASD: 7.24 (2.00-26.24), multiple pregnancy: 11.60 (2.54-53.07), exposure to passive smoking during pregnancy: 2.95 (1.86-4.68), vaginal bleeding during pregnancy: 3.10 (1.44-6.67), hypertension with pregnancy: 3.64 (1.06-12.51), preterm labor: 2.64 (1.26-5.57), neonatal convulsions: 14.88 (5.01-44.20), and admission to neonatal intensive care unit 2.13: (1.21-3.74) were associated with the increased odds of ASD. On the other hand, the intake of vitamins during pregnancy: 0.09 (0.06-0.16) and C-section: 0.44 (0.27-0.70) were associated with the decreased odds of ASD.

Conclusion: This study detected several maternal and neonatal risk factors for ASD in Egyptian children.

Citing Articles

Association between combined use of epidural analgesia and oxytocin administration during labor and offspring outcomes: a narrative review and proposal.

Tachi A, Takahashi Y, Kotani T Nagoya J Med Sci. 2025; 86(4):549-563.

PMID: 39780929 PMC: 11704772. DOI: 10.18999/nagjms.86.4.549.

Examining the Relationship Between Parental Broader Autism Phenotype Traits, Offspring Autism, and Parental Mental Health.

El-Bouhali-Abdellaoui F, Voltas N, Morales-Hidalgo P, Canals J Autism Res. 2024; 18(2):387-401.

PMID: 39713974 PMC: 11826035. DOI: 10.1002/aur.3295.

Prenatal Diabetes and Obesity: Implications for Autism Spectrum Disorders in Offspring - A Comprehensive Review.

Michalczyk J, Milosz A, Gesek M, Fornal A Med Sci Monit. 2024; 30:e945087.

PMID: 39180197 PMC: 11351376. DOI: 10.12659/MSM.945087.

References

Ciaranello A, Ciaranello R . The neurobiology of infantile autism. Annu Rev Neurosci. 1995; 18:101-28. DOI: 10.1146/annurev.ne.18.030195.000533. View

Getahun D, Fassett M, Peltier M, Wing D, Xiang A, Chiu V . Association of Perinatal Risk Factors with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Am J Perinatol. 2017; 34(3):295-304. DOI: 10.1055/s-0036-1597624. View

Chiarotti F, Venerosi A . Epidemiology of Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Review of Worldwide Prevalence Estimates Since 2014. Brain Sci. 2020; 10(5). PMC: 7288022. DOI: 10.3390/brainsci10050274. View

Burd L, Severud R, Kerbeshian J, Klug M . Prenatal and perinatal risk factors for autism. J Perinat Med. 2000; 27(6):441-50. DOI: 10.1515/JPM.1999.059. View

Bai D, Yip B, Windham G, Sourander A, Francis R, Yoffe R . Association of Genetic and Environmental Factors With Autism in a 5-Country Cohort. JAMA Psychiatry. 2019; 76(10):1035-1043. PMC: 6646998. DOI: 10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2019.1411. View

Sandin S, Schendel D, Magnusson P, Hultman C, Suren P, Susser E . Autism risk associated with parental age and with increasing difference in age between the parents. Mol Psychiatry. 2015; 21(5):693-700. PMC: 5414073. DOI: 10.1038/mp.2015.70. View

Newschaffer C, Fallin D, Lee N . Heritable and nonheritable risk factors for autism spectrum disorders. Epidemiol Rev. 2003; 24(2):137-53. DOI: 10.1093/epirev/mxf010. View

Lavelle T, Weinstein M, Newhouse J, Munir K, Kuhlthau K, Prosser L . Economic burden of childhood autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics. 2014; 133(3):e520-9. PMC: 7034397. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2013-0763. View

Croen L, Grether J, Selvin S . Descriptive epidemiology of autism in a California population: who is at risk?. J Autism Dev Disord. 2002; 32(3):217-24. DOI: 10.1023/a:1015405914950. View

10.

Townsend J, Courchesne E . Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors in autism, pervasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified, and the general population. Pediatrics. 2001; 107(4):E63. DOI: 10.1542/peds.107.4.e63. View

11.

Lyall K, Schmidt R, Hertz-Picciotto I . Maternal lifestyle and environmental risk factors for autism spectrum disorders. Int J Epidemiol. 2014; 43(2):443-64. PMC: 3997376. DOI: 10.1093/ije/dyt282. View

12.

Larsson H, Eaton W, Madsen K, Vestergaard M, Olesen A, Agerbo E . Risk factors for autism: perinatal factors, parental psychiatric history, and socioeconomic status. Am J Epidemiol. 2005; 161(10):916-25. DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwi123. View

13.

Lauritsen M, Pedersen C, Mortensen P . Effects of familial risk factors and place of birth on the risk of autism: a nationwide register-based study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 2005; 46(9):963-71. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.2004.00391.x. View

14.

Glasson E, Bower C, Petterson B, de Klerk N, Chaney G, Hallmayer J . Perinatal factors and the development of autism: a population study. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2004; 61(6):618-27. DOI: 10.1001/archpsyc.61.6.618. View

15.

Cryan E, Byrne M, ODonovan A, OCallaghan E . A case-control study of obstetric complications and later autistic disorder. J Autism Dev Disord. 1996; 26(4):453-60. DOI: 10.1007/BF02172829. View

16.

Hultman C, Sparen P, Cnattingius S . Perinatal risk factors for infantile autism. Epidemiology. 2002; 13(4):417-23. DOI: 10.1097/00001648-200207000-00009. View

17.

Steffenburg S, Gillberg C, Hellgren L, Andersson L, Gillberg I, Jakobsson G . A twin study of autism in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. J Child Psychol Psychiatry. 1989; 30(3):405-16. DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7610.1989.tb00254.x. View

18.

Hallmayer J, Cleveland S, Torres A, Phillips J, Cohen B, Torigoe T . Genetic heritability and shared environmental factors among twin pairs with autism. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2011; 68(11):1095-102. PMC: 4440679. DOI: 10.1001/archgenpsychiatry.2011.76. View

19.

Dodds L, Fell D, Shea S, Armson B, Allen A, Bryson S . The role of prenatal, obstetric and neonatal factors in the development of autism. J Autism Dev Disord. 2010; 41(7):891-902. DOI: 10.1007/s10803-010-1114-8. View

20.

Williams K, Helmer M, Duncan G, Peat J, Mellis C . Perinatal and maternal risk factors for autism spectrum disorders in New South Wales, Australia. Child Care Health Dev. 2008; 34(2):249-56. DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2007.00796.x. View