Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the association between prematurity and diagnosis of neurodevelopmental disorders (ND) (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder [ADHD] or autism spectrum disorder [ASD]) in Brazilian children and adolescents. Case–control study based on medical records data from a specialized outpatient clinic. Prematurity was defined as gestational age less than 37 weeks. Prematurity was independently associated with diagnosis of a ND (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 3.46, 95% CI 1.15 – 7.92), as well as with ADHD and ASD diagnosis after a multiple logistic regression analysis. These findings from Brazilian patients are related to what is found in the literature worldwide. Efforts to modify risk factors, such as prematurity, may impact incidence reduction of both ADHD and ASD.
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All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Material preparation, data collection and analysis were performed by TCBS, GAB and APD. The first draft of the manuscript was written by TCBS and all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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The protocol study was approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee of the UNISUL submitted through Plataforma Brasil.
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All data were collected from participant’s medical records. After authorization by the legal custodian of the medical records, the investigator contacted the legal participant’s guardian for signing the inform consent. The inform consent signature was allowed to be dispensed after two unsuccessful telephone contact attempts made by the investigators on different occasions.
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Soncini, T.C.B., Belotto, G.A. & Diaz, A.P. Association Between Prematurity and Diagnosis of Neurodevelopment Disorder: A Case–Control Study. J Autism Dev Disord 50, 145–152 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04235-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-019-04235-2