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A Systematic Review of the Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Born Preterm

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Abstract

Preterm birth is associated with an increased risk for autism spectrum disorder, with various factors proposed to underlie this relationship. The aim of this systematic review was to provide a narrative synthesis of the literature regarding the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorder in children born preterm. Medline, Embase and PsycINFO databases were searched via Ovid to identify studies published from January 1990 to December 2019. Original studies in which a standardized diagnostic tool and/or clinical assessment was used to diagnose autism, along with a risk factor analysis to identify associated predictors, were included. A total of 11 eligible studies were identified. Male sex, being born small for gestational age and general cognitive impairment were the most robust findings, with each reported as a significant factor in at least two studies. Comparisons across studies were limited by variation in risk factor measurement and gestational age ranges investigated.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychology, University College Dublin, Newman Building, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland

    Clodagh Cogley, Helen O’Reilly, Jessica Bramham & Michelle Downes

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  1. Clodagh Cogley
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  2. Helen O’Reilly
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Correspondence to Clodagh Cogley.

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Appendix

Appendix

Medline Search Strategy (Via Ovid)

  1. 1.

    (Preterm birth or Preterm infant).mp. or exp infant, premature, diseases/ or exp gestational age/ or exp infant, low birth weight/ or exp infant, premature/ or exp premature birth/

  2. 2.

    autism.mp. or exp Autistic Disorder/ or exp autism spectrum disorder/ or exp Asperger Syndrome/ or exp child development disorders, pervasive/ or exp Child Development Disorders/ or pervasive developmental disorder.mp.

  3. 3.

    1 AND 2

  4. 4.

    limit 3 to yr = "1990 -Current"

Embase Search Strategy (via Ovid)

  1. 1.

    exp autism/ or 'autism spectrum disorder'.mp. or 'autistic disorder'.mp. or 'child development disorders'.mp. or 'kanners syndrome'.mp. or 'pervasive developmental disorders'.mp.

  2. 2.

    exp premature labor/ or exp prematurity/ or exp low birth weight/ or exp gestational age/ or 'preterm birth'.mp. or 'premature infant'.mp. or 'preterm infant'.mp.

  3. 3.

    1 AND 2

  4. 4.

    limit 3 to yr = "1990 -Current"

PsycINFO Search Strategy (Via Ovid)

  1. 1.

    exp Premature Birth/ or exp pregnancy outcomes/ or exp birth weight/ or preterm birth.mp. or preterm infant.mp. or low birth weight.mp. or gestational age.mp. or premature infant.mp. or premature labor.mp.

  2. 2.

    exp autism spectrum disorders/ or exp neurodevelopmental disorders/ or exp autistic traits/ or child development disorders.mp. or aspergers syndrome.mp. or pervasive developmental disorders.mp. or autistic*.mp.

  3. 3.

    1 AND 2

  4. 4.

    limit 3 to yr = "1990 -Current"

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Cogley, C., O’Reilly, H., Bramham, J. et al. A Systematic Review of the Risk Factors for Autism Spectrum Disorder in Children Born Preterm. Child Psychiatry Hum Dev 52, 841–855 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-020-01071-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10578-020-01071-9

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