Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal risk factors of autism spectrum disorder

8,760 children diagnosed with ASD between age 2-18 years were matched with 26, 280 controls. ASD is associated with maternal mental illness, epilepsy, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, infection, asthma, assisted fertility, hyperemesis, younger maternal age, labor complications, low birth weight, infant infection, epilepsy, birth asphyxia and newborn complications. Greatest increased risk was associated with infant epilepsy and maternal mental health and epilepsy medications.

CONCLUSION:

ASD is associated with a range of prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors, with the highest magnitude associations with maternal medication use and neonatal seizure.

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