Association of gestational weight gain and child growth in the early life with incidence of Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

95%CI): 2.99 (1.95, 4.60), p<0.001], maternal GDM [OR (95%CI): 7.65 (2.11, 27.69), p= 0.002] and gestatinal hypertention [OR (95%CI): 3.28 (1.01, 10.70), p= 0.04], birth head circumference [OR (95%CI): 1.88 (1.54, 2.30), p<0.001], weight [OR (95%CI): 4.47 (2.88, 7.17), p<0.001] and head circumference growth [OR (95%CI): 1.63 (1.18, 2.25), p= 0.003], low [OR (95%CI): 5.24 (1.86, 14.75), p= 0.002] and moderate [OR (95%CI): 2.02 (1.15, 3.55), p= 0.01] education of father were independently associated with increased risk of ASD. Mothers with excess GWG were 5.85 times more likely to have a child with ASD (p<0.001). Conclusion: The results indicate that maternal excessive GWG, age, parental low education level, birth head circumference, weight and head circumference growth and male sex of infant may possibly independently increase the risk of ASD in offspring. Key words: Autism spectrum disorder; gestational weight gain; maternal factors; birth weight; prenatal factors.