Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The etiology of ASD is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and maternal factors. Recent studies have s...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Noor Abdulmohsin Mohammed, Najdat Sh. Mahmood, Jalil I. Alezzi, Bassim Mohammed Ahmed, Mohamed Aydaroos Aljefri
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: College of medicine/ University of Diyala 2024-12-01
Series:Diyala Journal of Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:http://djm.uodiyala.edu.iq/index.php/djm/article/view/1221
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1846106739434323968
author Noor Abdulmohsin Mohammed
Najdat Sh. Mahmood
Jalil I. Alezzi
Bassim Mohammed Ahmed
Mohamed Aydaroos Aljefri
author_facet Noor Abdulmohsin Mohammed
Najdat Sh. Mahmood
Jalil I. Alezzi
Bassim Mohammed Ahmed
Mohamed Aydaroos Aljefri
author_sort Noor Abdulmohsin Mohammed
collection DOAJ
description Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The etiology of ASD is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and maternal factors. Recent studies have suggested maternal factors, such as advanced maternal age, high BMI, smoking, and depression during pregnancy, as significant risk factors for ASD. Objective: This study aims to investigate the maternal risk factors that contribute to ASD in children at Diyala, Iraq. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 150 children, comprising 75 children diagnosed with ASD and 75 healthy children as a control group. The study was carried out from August 2023 to May 2024 in Diyala, Iraq. Data collection included comprehensive demographic, social, obstetric, and maternal health histories. ASD diagnosis was confirmed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2 (CARS-2). A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between maternal risk factors and ASD. Results: The study revealed several significant maternal risk factors for ASD. Advanced maternal age at pregnancy (mean age 28.1 years in cases vs. 22.9 years in controls, p=0.001), high maternal BMI (mean BMI 26.9 in cases vs. 24.4 in controls, p=0.0001), maternal smoking (6.7% in cases vs. 0% in controls, p=0.023), and maternal depression during pregnancy (22.7% in cases vs. 0% in controls, p=0.0001) were all significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD. The use of stimulating hormones before pregnancy also showed a significant association (21.3% in cases vs. 4% in controls, p=0.001). Parity, particularly having 1-2 pregnancies, was also a significant risk factor (p=0.002). Conclusion: This study identifies advanced maternal age, high BMI, smoking, depression, and the use of stimulating hormones before pregnancy as significant maternal risk factors for ASD in children. Keywords: Autism, ASD, maternal age and autism, maternal illness and autism.  
format Article
id doaj-art-e913c8cc754246f6a1cb3d8b5fae1b52
institution Kabale University
issn 2219-9764
2617-8982
language English
publishDate 2024-12-01
publisher College of medicine/ University of Diyala
record_format Article
series Diyala Journal of Medicine
spelling doaj-art-e913c8cc754246f6a1cb3d8b5fae1b522024-12-27T10:57:11ZengCollege of medicine/ University of DiyalaDiyala Journal of Medicine2219-97642617-89822024-12-0127210.26505/djm.v27i2.1221Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum DisorderNoor Abdulmohsin Mohammed0Najdat Sh. Mahmood1Jalil I. Alezzi2Bassim Mohammed Ahmed3Mohamed Aydaroos Aljefri4Postgraduate medical student at College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq.College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq.College of Medicine, University of Diyala, Diyala, Iraq.Baquba Teaching Hospital, Diyala, Iraq.College of medicine, king Abdulaziz University, Saudia Arabia. Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by deficits in social communication, restricted interests, and repetitive behaviors. The etiology of ASD is multifactorial, involving genetic, environmental, and maternal factors. Recent studies have suggested maternal factors, such as advanced maternal age, high BMI, smoking, and depression during pregnancy, as significant risk factors for ASD. Objective: This study aims to investigate the maternal risk factors that contribute to ASD in children at Diyala, Iraq. Patients and Methods: This case-control study was conducted on 150 children, comprising 75 children diagnosed with ASD and 75 healthy children as a control group. The study was carried out from August 2023 to May 2024 in Diyala, Iraq. Data collection included comprehensive demographic, social, obstetric, and maternal health histories. ASD diagnosis was confirmed using the Childhood Autism Rating Scale 2 (CARS-2). A logistic regression analysis was performed to assess the association between maternal risk factors and ASD. Results: The study revealed several significant maternal risk factors for ASD. Advanced maternal age at pregnancy (mean age 28.1 years in cases vs. 22.9 years in controls, p=0.001), high maternal BMI (mean BMI 26.9 in cases vs. 24.4 in controls, p=0.0001), maternal smoking (6.7% in cases vs. 0% in controls, p=0.023), and maternal depression during pregnancy (22.7% in cases vs. 0% in controls, p=0.0001) were all significantly associated with an increased risk of ASD. The use of stimulating hormones before pregnancy also showed a significant association (21.3% in cases vs. 4% in controls, p=0.001). Parity, particularly having 1-2 pregnancies, was also a significant risk factor (p=0.002). Conclusion: This study identifies advanced maternal age, high BMI, smoking, depression, and the use of stimulating hormones before pregnancy as significant maternal risk factors for ASD in children. Keywords: Autism, ASD, maternal age and autism, maternal illness and autism.   http://djm.uodiyala.edu.iq/index.php/djm/article/view/1221AutismASDMaternal Age and AutismMaternal illness and Autism
spellingShingle Noor Abdulmohsin Mohammed
Najdat Sh. Mahmood
Jalil I. Alezzi
Bassim Mohammed Ahmed
Mohamed Aydaroos Aljefri
Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Diyala Journal of Medicine
Autism
ASD
Maternal Age and Autism
Maternal illness and Autism
title Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_full Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_fullStr Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_full_unstemmed Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_short Maternal Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder
title_sort maternal risk factors for autism spectrum disorder
topic Autism
ASD
Maternal Age and Autism
Maternal illness and Autism
url http://djm.uodiyala.edu.iq/index.php/djm/article/view/1221
work_keys_str_mv AT noorabdulmohsinmohammed maternalriskfactorsforautismspectrumdisorder
AT najdatshmahmood maternalriskfactorsforautismspectrumdisorder
AT jalilialezzi maternalriskfactorsforautismspectrumdisorder
AT bassimmohammedahmed maternalriskfactorsforautismspectrumdisorder
AT mohamedaydaroosaljefri maternalriskfactorsforautismspectrumdisorder