Summary: Mothers who experience hyperemesis gravidarum, a severe form of morning sickness, are 53% more likely to have a child diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.
Source: Kaiser Permanente
Children whose mothers had hyperemesis gravidarum — a severe form of a morning sickness — during pregnancy were 53% more likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder, according to Kaiser Permanente research published in the American Journal of Perinatology.
“This study is important because it suggests that children born to women with hyperemesis may be at an increased risk of autism,” said lead study author Darios Getahun, MD, PhD, of Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research and Evaluation. “Awareness of this association may create the opportunity for earlier diagnosis and intervention in children at risk of autism.”
Hyperemesis gravidarum occurs in less than 5% of pregnancies. Affected women experience intense nausea and are unable to keep down food and fluids. This can lead to dangerous dehydration and inadequate nutrition during pregnancy.
To determine the extent of the association between hyperemesis gravidarum and autism spectrum disorder, researchers reviewed electronic health records of nearly 500,000 pregnant women and their children born between 1991 and 2014 at Kaiser Permanente in Southern California. They compared children whose mothers had a diagnosis of hyperemesis gravidarum during pregnancy to those whose mothers did not.
Other findings from the research included:
- Exposure to hyperemesis gravidarum was associated with increased risk of autism when hyperemesis gravidarum was diagnosed during the first and second trimesters of pregnancy, but not when it was diagnosed only in the third trimester.
- Exposure to hyperemesis gravidarum was associated with risk of autism regardless of the severity of the mother’s hyperemesis gravidarum.
- The association between hyperemesis gravidarum and autism spectrum disorder was stronger in girls than boys and among whites and Hispanics than among blacks and Pacific Islanders.
- The medications used to treat hyperemesis gravidarum did not appear to be related to autism risk.
The results are consistent with the hypothesis that women experiencing hyperemesis gravidarum have poor nutritional intake, which may, in turn lead to potential long-term neurodevelopment impairment in their children. The study cannot, however, rule out other possible explanations, such as perinatal exposures to some medications and maternal smoking.
In addition to Dr. Getahun, authors on this paper include Michael Fassett, MD, of Kaiser Permanente West Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles; Steven Jacobsen, MD, PhD, Anny Xiang, PhD, and Harpreet Takhar, MPH, of Kaiser Permanente Southern California Department of Research and Evaluation, Pasadena, Calif.; Deborah Wing, MD, MBA, of University of California Irvine, Irvine, Calif.; and Morgan Peltier, PhD, Winthrop University Hospital Research Institute, Mineola, New York.
Source:
Kaiser Permanente
Media Contacts:
Kerry Sinclair – Kaiser Permanente
Image Source:
The image is in the public domain.
Original Research: Closed access
“Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children Exposed in Utero to Hyperemesis Gravidarum”. Darios Getahun, Michael J. Fassett, Steven J. Jacobsen, Anny H. Xiang, Harpreet S. Takhar, Deborah A. Wing, Morgan R. Peltier.
American Journal of Perinatologys doi:10.1055/s-0039-1696670.
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders in Children Exposed in Utero to Hyperemesis Gravidarum
Objective
This study aimed to determine if hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk, and how this association is influenced by race, ethnicity, sex, exposure timing, and medication used to treat it.
Study
Design This is a retrospective cohort study using records from 469,789 mother–child pairs who delivered at Kaiser Permanente Southern California (KPSC) hospital (1991–2014). Singleton-born children were followed longitudinally from 2 to 17 years of age. Clinical records were used to determine the diagnosis of HG and specialist-confirmed diagnosis of ASD.
Results
Children exposed to HG in-utero had higher rates of ASD than unexposed children (2.87 vs. 1.71/1,000 person-years; adjusted hazard ratio [adj.HR]: 1.53; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.37–1.70). Children exposed at first and second trimester of pregnancies were more likely to develop ASD; 1.58-fold (95% CI: 1.40–1.79), and 1.36-fold (95% CI: 1.05–1.75), respectively, compared with unexposed children. HG was associated with ASD for boys (adj.HR: 1.50; 95% CI: 1.33–1.70) and girls (adj.HR: 1.62; 95% CI: 1.28–2.05). HG was significantly associated with ASD risk in white and Hispanic children. The medications used to treat HG did not contribute to ASD risk.
Conclusion
HG diagnosis is associated with ASD risk and may be helpful in identifying at-risk children who could benefit from enhanced surveillance and earlier diagnosis and intervention.
