Paternal and maternal age at pregnancy and autism spectrum disorders in off spring
Abstract: The prevalence of
autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) has increased 10 times over the past half
century, while paternal and maternal age at pregnancy has also increased.
Studies looking for an association between paternal or maternal age at
pregnancy and ASDs in offspring have not been conclusive. Objective To assess
for possible associations between paternal and maternal age at pregnancy and
ASDs in offspring.
Methods This case-control study had 50 case and 100 control subjects,
each case was matched for age and gender to two controls. Case subjects were
obtained by consecutive sampling of patients aged 18 months to 7 years who
visited theDevelopmental Behavioral & Community Pediatrics Outpatient Clinic
and private growth and development centers from January to April 2013, while control
group were children of the same age range and same gender who visited pediatric
outpatient clinic at Sanglah Hospital mostly due to acute respiratory tract infection,
without ASDs as assessed by the DSM-IV-TR criteria. We interviewed parents to
collect the following data: maternal and paternal age at pregnancy, child’s
birth weight, history of asphyxia, hospital admission during the neonatal
period, pathological labor, maternal smoking during pregnancy, paternal smoking,
and gestational age. Data analysis was performed with Chi-square and Fisher’s
exact tests.
Results Multivariable analysis showed that higher paternal age at
pregnancy was associated with ASDs in offspring (OR 6.3; 95%CI 2.0 to 19.3; P
0.001). However, there was no significant association between maternal age
during pregnancy and the incidence of ASDs. Asphyxia and paternal smoking were
also associated with higher incidence of ASDs in the offspring (OR 10.3; 95%CI
1.9 to 56.5; P 0.007 and OR 3.2; 95%CI 1.5 to 6.9; P 0.003, respectively).
Author: Luh Putu Rihayani Budi,
Mei Neni Sitaresmi, I Gusti Ayu Trisna Windiani
Journal Code: jpkedokterangg150280
