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Meta-Analysis
. 2014 Apr;44(4):766-75.
doi: 10.1007/s10803-013-1928-2.

Maternal diabetes and the risk of autism spectrum disorders in the offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Guifeng Xu  1 , Jin Jing, Katherine Bowers, Buyun Liu, Wei Bao
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Maternal diabetes and the risk of autism spectrum disorders in the offspring: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Guifeng Xu et al. J Autism Dev Disord. 2014 Apr.

Abstract

We performed a systematic literature search regarding maternal diabetes before and during pregnancy and the risk of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) in the offspring. Of the 178 potentially relevant articles, 12 articles including three cohort studies and nine case-control studies were included in the meta-analysis. Both the meta-analyses of cohort studies and case-control studies showed significant associations. The pooled relative risk and 95% confidence interval (CI) among cohort studies was 1.48 (1.25-1.75, p < 0.001). For case-control studies, the pooled odds ratio and 95% CI was 1.72 (1.24-2.41, p = 0.001). No indication of significant heterogeneity across studies or publication bias was observed. In conclusion, maternal diabetes was significantly associated with a greater risk of ASD in the offspring.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Flow chart for study selection (through February 3rd, 2013)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Association of maternal diabetes and ASD in the offspring in the included studies, according to study design
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Association of maternal diabetes and ASD in the offspring in the included cohort studies, according to the maternal diabetes case definition
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Association of maternal diabetes and ASD in the offspring in the included case–control studies, according to the maternal diabetes case definition
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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