Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2012 Apr;206(4):314.e1-9.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2012.01.044.

Autism risk in small- and large-for-gestational-age infants

Gaea Schwaebe Moore  1 , Anna Weber Kneitel, Cheryl K Walker, William M Gilbert, Guibo Xing
Affiliations

Autism risk in small- and large-for-gestational-age infants

Gaea Schwaebe Moore et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2012 Apr.

Abstract

Objective: We sought to determine whether small-for-gestational age (SGA) and large-for-gestational age (LGA) birthweights increase autism risk.

Study design: This was a retrospective cohort analysis comparing children with autism (n = 20,206) within a birth cohort (n = 5,979,605). Stratification by sex and birthweight percentile (SGA, <5th or 5-10th percentile; appropriate size for gestational age [GA], >10th to <90th percentile; LGA, either 90-95th or >95th percentile) preceded Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel analysis for GA effect, and multivariate analysis.

Results: Autism risk was increased in preterm SGA (<5th percentile) infants 23-31 weeks (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09-2.35) and 32-33 weeks (aOR, 1.83; 95% CI, 1.16-2.87), and term LGA (>95th percentile) infants 39-41 weeks (aOR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.08-1.26), but was decreased in preterm LGA infants 23-31 weeks (aOR, 0.45; 95% CI, 0.21-0.95).

Conclusion: SGA was associated with autism in preterm infants, while LGA demonstrated dichotomous risk by GA, with increased risk at term, and decreased risk in the premature infants. These findings likely reflect disparate pathophysiologies, and should influence prenatal counseling, pediatric autism screening, and further autism research.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE
FIGURE. Autism risk by birthweight percentile and gestational age
Within 1991 through 2001 California birth cohort, small-for-gestational age (SGA) birthweights (BW) (blue lines) were associated with increased autism risk <34 weeks, relative to appropriate-for-gestational age (GA) BW. Large-for-gestational age (LGA) BW (red lines) were protective against autism in preterm period but were associated with increased autism risk at 39–41 weeks. Analysis included infants that survived to 1 year of age. Multivariate analysis was performed for maternal age, race, hypertension, preeclampsia, birth order, twin gestation, and months since last live birth.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Rice C Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders–autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, 14 sites, United States, 2002. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2007;56:12–28. - PubMed
    1. Johnson CP, Myers SM. Identification and evaluation of children with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics 2007;120:1183–215. - PubMed
    1. Rice C Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders–autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, United States, 2006. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2009;58:1–20. - PubMed
    1. Lauritsen MB, Pedersen CB, Mortensen PB. Effects of familial risk factors and place of birth on the risk of autism: a nationwide register-based study. J Child Psychol Psychiatry 2005;46:963–71. - PubMed
    1. Limperopoulos C Autism spectrum disorders in survivors of extreme prematurity. Clin Perinatol 2009;36:791–805, vi. - PubMed

Publication types