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. 2023 Sep:260:113536.
doi: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2023.113536. Epub 2023 Jun 2.

Neurobehavioral and Medical Correlates of Autism Screening: 2-Year Outcomes for Infants Born Very Preterm

Coral L Shuster  1 , Stephen J Sheinkopf  2 , Elisabeth C McGowan  3 , Julie A Hofheimer  4 , T Michael O'Shea  4 , Brian S Carter  5 , Jennifer B Helderman  6 , Jennifer Check  6 , Charles R Neal  7 , Steven L Pastyrnak  8 , Lynne M Smith  9 , Cynthia Loncar  10 , Lynne M Dansereau  11 , Sheri A DellaGrotta  11 , Carmen Marsit  12 , Barry M Lester  13
Affiliations

Neurobehavioral and Medical Correlates of Autism Screening: 2-Year Outcomes for Infants Born Very Preterm

Coral L Shuster et al. J Pediatr. 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Objective: To identify neonatal characteristics and 2-year neurodevelopmental outcomes associated with positive screening for risk of autism.

Study design: Nine university-affiliated neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) enrolled infants born at <30 weeks of gestation. Infants underwent the NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale examination before discharge and the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, the Child Behavior Checklist, and the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, revised with follow-up (M-CHAT-R/F) at 2 years of corrected age. Generalized estimating equations examined associations between M-CHAT-R/F, neurobehavioral test results, and neonatal medical morbidities.

Results: At 2 years of corrected age, data were available for 466 of 744 enrolled infants without cerebral palsy. Infants with hypoaroused NICU Network Neurobehavioral Scale profiles were more likely to screen M-CHAT-R/F-positive (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.38-5.54). Infants with ≥2 medical morbidities also were more likely to screen positive (OR 2.65, 95% CI 1.27-5.54). Children with positive M-CHAT-R/F scores had lower Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development, Third Edition, Cognitive (t [451] = 5.43, P < .001, d = 0.82), Language (t [53.49] = 7.82, P < .001, d = 1.18), and Motor (t [451] = 7.98, P < .001, d = 1.21) composite scores and significantly greater Child Behavior Checklist Internalizing (t [457] -6.19, P < .001, d = -0.93) and Externalizing (t [57.87] = -5.62, P < .001, d = -0.84) scores.

Conclusions: Positive M-CHAT-R/F screens at 2 years of corrected age were associated with neonatal medical morbidities and neurobehavioral examinations as well as toddler developmental and behavioral outcomes. These findings demonstrate the potential utility of the M-CHAT-R/F as a global developmental screener in infants born very preterm, regardless of whether there is a later autism diagnosis.

Keywords: autism; development; medical conditions; neurobehavior; screening; very preterm.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of Competing Interest Supported by the National Institutes of Health (Award Number R01HD072267 to BL, MO); NICHD Neonatal Research Network (grants 2UG1HD027904 and 5UG1HD068284 to B.L., C.M.). Disclaimer: The content of this manuscript is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health. The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1:
Figure 1:
NNNS Profiles for the Cohort. Behaviors assessed on the NNNS are on the X-axis with individual lines showing developmental profiles identified by latent profile analysis.
Figure 1:
Figure 1:
NNNS Profiles for the Cohort. Behaviors assessed on the NNNS are on the X-axis with individual lines showing developmental profiles identified by latent profile analysis.
Figure 2:
Figure 2:
Participant Flowchart
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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