Primal Health Databank: Study
| Entry No: | 0936 |
| Title: | Association of autism with induced or augmented childbirth in North Carolina Birth Record (1990-1998) and Education Research (1997-2007) databases. |
| Author(s): | Gregory SG, Anthopolos R, et al. |
| Reference: | JAMA Pediatr. 2013 Oct;167(10):959-66. doi: 10.1001/jamapediatrics.2013.2904. |
| Place of Study: | USA |
| Abstract: | The authors performed an epidemiological analysis using multivariable logistic regression modeling involving the North Carolina Detailed Birth Record and Education Research databases. The study featured 625,042 live births linked with school records, including more than 5500 children with a documented exceptionality designation for autism.
EXPOSURES:
Induced or augmented births.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:
Autism as assessed by exceptionality designations in child educational records.
RESULTS:
Compared with children born to mothers who received neither labor induction nor augmentation, children born to mothers who were induced and augmented, induced only, or augmented only experienced increased odds of autism after controlling for potential confounders related to socioeconomic status, maternal health, pregnancy-related events and conditions, and birth year. The observed associations between labor induction/augmentation were particularly pronounced in male children.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:
Our work suggests that induction/augmentation during childbirth is associated with increased odds of autism diagnosis in childhood. While these results are interesting, further investigation is needed to differentiate among potential explanations of the association including underlying pregnancy conditions requiring the eventual need to induce/augment, the events of labor and delivery associated with induction/augmentation, and the specific treatments and dosing used to induce/augment labor (e.g., exogenous oxytocin and prostaglandins). |
| Keyword(s): | autism, autistic spectrum disorder, labor augmentation, labor induction |
| Discussion: | No discussion mentioned for this entry |
| See Also: | No related entries mentioned for this entry |
Go Back | New Keyword Search