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Cited by 143Autism Spectrum Disorder ResearchAssisted Reproductive Technology and Twin PregnancyFamily and Disability Support Research

Closely spaced pregnancies are associated with increased odds of autism in California sibling births

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Cheslack-Postava, Keely, Liu, Kayuet, Bearman, Peter S.·2011·Pediatrics
DOI 10.1542/peds.2010-2371PMC PMC3387860
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Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether the interpregnancy interval (IPI) is associated with the risk of autism in subsequent births. METHODS: Pairs of first- and second-born singleton full siblings were identified from all California births that occurred from 1992 to 2002 using birth records, and autism diagnoses were identified by using linked records of the California Department of Developmental Services. IPI was calculated as the time interval between birth dates minus the gestational age of the second sibling. In the primary analysis, logistic regression models were used to determine whether odds of autism in second-born children varied according to IPI. To address potential confounding by unmeasured family-level factors, a case-sibling control analysis determined whether affected sibling (first versus second) varied with IPI. RESULTS: An inverse association between IPI and odds of autism among 662 730 second-born children was observed. In particular, IPIs of <12, 12 to 23, and 24 to 35 months were associated with odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for autism of 3.39 (3.00–3.82), 1.86 (1.65–2.10), and 1.26 (1.10–1.45) relative to IPIs of ≥36 months. The association was not mediated by preterm birth or low birth weight and persisted across categories of sociodemographic characteristics, with some attenuation in the oldest and youngest parents. Second-born children were at increased risk of autism relative to their firstborn siblings only in pairs with short IPIs. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that children born after shorter intervals between pregnancies are at increased risk of developing autism; the highest risk was associated with pregnancies spaced <1 year apart.

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Authors
Cheslack-Postava, K., Liu, K., & Bearman, P. S.
Affiliations
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health and Society Scholars, Columbia University, New York, New York; and
  • Columbia University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Pediatrics
Publisher
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
Published
2011-02-01
Volume
127
Issue
2
Pages
246-253
ISSN
  • 0031-4005 (ISSN-L)
  • 1098-4275
DOI
10.1542/peds.2010-2371
PMC
PMC3387860
OpenAlex
W2140324245
Cited by
143
References
28
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 2 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 6 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 6 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 6 · 2016: 6 · 2015: 12 · 2014: 20 · 2013: 10 · 2012: 18
FWCI
9.31
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • PEDIATRICS (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
  • National Institutes of Health (DP1OD003635)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Autism Spectrum Disorder Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pediatrics, Perinatology and Child Health › Assisted Reproductive Technology and Twin Pregnancy
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Family and Disability Support Research
Keywords
autism spectrum disorder, interpregnancy interval, second-born children, full siblings, birth spacing, autism risk, preterm birth, low birth weight, parental age
MeSH terms
Autistic Disorder, Birth Intervals, California, Child, Child, Preschool, Female, Hospital Records, Humans, Infant, Male, Pregnancy, Risk Factors, Siblings

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