ABSTRACT
Perinatal Factors,
Socio-Economic Status, Parental Psychiatric History and Autism in Denmark -- A
Register-Based Case-Control Study
Heidi Larsson, North Atlantic Neuro-Epidemiology
Alliances, Aarhus University
Autism is a developmental disease with an occurrence rate of at least 1 per 1000. It
is thought to be largely genetically determined but also pregnancy, delivery or neonatal complications may have an effect. There has been no
consistency in results from studies of associations between perinatal factors and autism, partly due to
different designs and strengths of the studies. Recent studies have pointed to an
increased risk among low birth weight children, small for gestational age children,
children with a low Apgar score at birth or children delivered by a caesarean section.
Based on Danish register information it was possible to identify 698 cases of autism
diagnosed within the last 30 years. These cases are the basis for this individually
matched case-control study with the purpose of exploring the association between
perinatal factors and autism in Denmark. In addition to information on pregnancy and
delivery it was possible to get information on socio-economic status and parental
psychiatric history from various Danish registers. This has given the study an additional perspective as to whether parental psychiatric
diseases increases the risk of autism and if it does, if this effect will wipe out any perinatal effect!
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