Speaker
Nina Gunnes, Postdoc, Department of Genes and Environment, Division of Epidemiology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health.
Abstract
Autism is a complex nevropsychological developmental disorder that influences gestures, speech, and social interaction with others. Due to a number of different phenotypes, the collective term autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is generally applied.
Previous studies have established associations between autism and several complications during pregnancy and delivery. A recent cohort study of Californian singleton full-sibling births in the period 1992--2002 found that closely spaced pregnancies are significantly associated with increased odds of autism in the second-born child (Cheslack-Postava, 2011).
The aim of the present study is to assess the association between pregnancy spacing and the risk of ASD using nationwide registry data on pairs of singleton full siblings born in Norway. Data are analyzed using binary logistic regression, adjusting for confounding variables. Potential sex differences are examined through stratified data analyses.