Very short or long pregnancy intervals linked to autism?

Article

Women who become pregnant again within a year of birth or more than 5 years later may be at increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a recent study.

Women who become pregnant again within a year of birth or more than 5 years later may be at increased risk of having a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), according to a recent study in the Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.

Led by Columbia University, the research was conducted through the Finnish Prenatal Study of Autism, based in a national birth cohort. The Finnish Hospital Discharge Register was used to identify children born in Finland between 1987 and 2005 and those diagnosed with an ASD by 2007. Overall, 2208 non-firstborn children with an ASD and 5163 matched controls were included. Conditional logistic regression, adjusted for any potential confounder, was used to determine any association between ASD and interpregnancy intervals (IPIs).

Menopause: What's the impact of hot flashes on productivity?

When compared with births that had an IPI of 24 to 59 months, those with an IPI of <12 months had an increased risk of ASD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.28, 1.74) on models adjusted for confounders. The ORs for longer IPIs, 60 to 119 months and ≥120 months, were 1.28 (95% CI = 1.08, 1.52) and 1.44 (95% CI = 1.12, 1.85), respectively.

Investigators concluded that there is evidence that longer and very short IPIs can increase the risk of ASD.

To get weekly advice for today's Ob/Gyn, subscribe to the Contemporary OB/GYN Special Delivery.

Recent Videos
March of Dimes 2024 Report highlights preterm birth crisis | Image Credit: marchofdimes.org
Understanding and managing postpartum hemorrhage: Insights from Kameelah Phillips, MD | Image Credit: callawomenshealth.com
Understanding cardiovascular risk factors in women | Image Credit: cedars-sinai.org.
Updated FLUBLOK label expands influenza vaccine options for pregnant women | Image Credit: mass-vaccination-resources.org
March of Dimes reports increase in maternity care desert prevalence | Image Credit: marchofdimes.org.
Discussing low-dose aspirin use for preeclampsia prevention | Image Credit: komodohealth.com
Addressing maternal health inequities: Insights from CDC's Wanda Barfield | Image Credit: cdc.gov
Addressing racial and ethnic disparities in brachial plexus birth Injury | Image Credit: shrinerschildrens.org
Innovations in prenatal care: Insights from ACOG 2024 | Image Credit:  uofmhealth.org.
Related Content
© 2024 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.