Gestational age and the risk of autism spectrum disorder in Sweden, Finland, and Norway: A cohort study

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Abstract
The complex etiology of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is still unresolved. Preterm birth (p-value < 0.001), 1.35 (95% CI 1.30–1.40; 1.08% vs 0.83%; p-value < 0.001), and 1.37 (95% CI 1.21–1.54; 1.74% vs 0.83%; p-value < 0.001), respectively. The main limitation of this study is the lack of data on potential causes of pre- or postterm birth. Also, the possibility of residual confounding should be considered. In the current study, we observed that the RR of ASD increased weekly as the date of delivery diverged from 40 weeks, both pre- and postterm, independently of sex and size for GA. Given the unknown etiology of ASD and the lifelong consequences of the disorder, identifying groups of increased risk associated with a potentially modifiable risk factor is important.
Funding Information
  • H2020 European Research Council ((H2020-SC1: PM04-2016),)
  • Beatrice and Samuel A. Seaver Foundation
  • Svenska Läkaresällskapet
  • Strategic Research Council (grant no 315690)
  • Novo Nordisk Fonden
  • Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö
  • Sigrid Juselius

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