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Journal article
Autism and intellectual disability are differentially related to sociodemographic background at birth
PloS one, Vol.6(3), e17875
2011
PMCID: PMC3068153
PMID: 21479223
Abstract
Background
Research findings investigating the sociodemographics of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been inconsistent and rarely considered the presence of intellectual disability (ID).
Methods
We used population data on Western Australian singletons born from 1984 to 1999 (n = 398,353) to examine the sociodemographic characteristics of children diagnosed with ASD with or without ID, or ID without ASD compared with non-affected children.
Results
The profiles for the four categories examined, mild-moderate ID, severe ID, ASD without ID and ASD with ID varied considerably and we often identified a gradient effect where the risk factors for mild-moderate ID and ASD without ID were at opposite extremes while those for ASD with ID were intermediary. This was demonstrated clearly with increased odds of ASD without ID amongst older mothers aged 35 years and over (odds ratio (OR) = 1.69 [CI: 1.18, 2.43]), first born infants (OR = 2.78; [CI: 1.67, 4.54]), male infants (OR = 6.57 [CI: 4.87, 8.87]) and increasing socioeconomic advantage. In contrast, mild-moderate ID was associated with younger mothers aged less than 20 years (OR = 1.88 [CI: 1.57, 2.25]), paternal age greater than 40 years (OR = 1.59 [CI: 1.36, 1.86]), Australian-born and Aboriginal mothers (OR = 1.60 [CI: 1.41, 1.82]), increasing birth order and increasing social disadvantage (OR = 2.56 [CI: 2.27, 2.97]). Mothers of infants residing in regional or remote areas had consistently lower risk of ASD or ID and may be linked to reduced access to services or under-ascertainment rather than a protective effect of location.
Conclusions
The different risk profiles observed between groups may be related to aetiological differences or ascertainment factors or both. Untangling these pathways is challenging but an urgent public health priority in view of the supposed autism epidemic.
Details
- Title
- Autism and intellectual disability are differentially related to sociodemographic background at birth
- Authors/Creators
- Helen Leonard - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaEmma Glasson - The University of Western AustraliaNatasha Nassar - The University of SydneyAndrew Whitehouse - Univ Western Australia, Ctr Child Hlth Res, Telethon Inst Child Hlth Res, Perth, WA, AustraliaAmi Bebbington - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaJenny Bourke - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaPeter Jacoby - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaGlenys Dixon - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaEva Malacova - School of Population and Global HealthCarol Bower - The Kids Research Institute AustraliaFiona Stanley - The Kids Research Institute Australia
- Publication Details
- PloS one, Vol.6(3), e17875
- Publisher
- Public Library Science
- Number of pages
- 9
- Grant note
- 353628; 572568; 632955 / NHMRC; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia 353514; 572742 / Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC); National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia
- Identifiers
- 991005569343407891
- Copyright
- © 2011 Leonard et al.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Ngangk Yira Institute for Change
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Citation topics
- 1 Clinical & Life Sciences
- 1.136 Autism & Development Disorders
- 1.136.283 Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Web Of Science research areas
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- ESI research areas
- Multidisciplinary