Congenital anomalies associated with autism spectrum disorders

Dev Med Child Neurol. 2006 Jun;48(6):500-7. doi: 10.1017/S001216220600106X.

Abstract

This study examined whether major congenital structural anomalies identified in infancy occurred more frequently in children later diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders (ASD; n=417; 341 males, 76 females) than in comparison children (n=2,067; 1,681 males, 386 females). Participants were sampled from infants born at Kaiser Permanente Northern California facilities between 1995 and 1999 who remained health plan members for at least 2 years (n=88,163). Comparison children were frequency-matched to children with ASD according to sex, birth year, and birth hospital. Congenital anomalies were diagnosed in 10.8% of children with ASD and 6.2% of comparison children (crude odds ratio [ORc] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.3-2.6). This association remained significant after adjustment for key maternal and infant covariates (adjusted OR [ORa] 1.7, 95% CI 1.1-2.4). Almost all organ-system anomaly categories were more prevalent in children with ASD, however only gastrointestinal anomalies were significantly associated with ASD in adjusted analyses (1.9 vs 0.4%, ORa 5.1, 95% CI 1.8-14.1).

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / epidemiology*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / etiology
  • Autistic Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Autistic Disorder / etiology
  • California / epidemiology
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Catchment Area, Health
  • Environment
  • Female
  • Gastrointestinal Tract / abnormalities
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infant, Very Low Birth Weight
  • Male
  • Prevalence