Prenatal, Perinatal, and Postnatal Factors in a Cohort of Very Preterm and Very Low Birth Weight Toddlers with Suspected Autism Spectrum Disorder

There is growing interest in the identification of prenatal, perinatal, and postnatal factors that correlate with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) and these have been extensively studied in the general population. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between these factors and the elevated likelihood of being diagnosed with ASD in the very preterm and very low birth weight population. Conducted as a prospective longitudinal study, this research monitored 133 neonates born very preterm (less than 32 weeks of gestation) or weighing less than 1,500 g at birth from birth until 2 years of age. Having a mother born abroad, low gestational age, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, hearing loss, longer NICU stay and low Apgar score of 10 min were associated with an increase in suspected ASD. Conversely, cesarean delivery, and full-dose corticosteroid maturation were associated with a lower incidence of ASD. Some factors associated with ASD in the very preterm population may differ from those found in the general population. Large-scale studies with longitudinal datasets are warranted.