Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics

The Korean Pediatric Society (대한소아청소년과학회)
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Is fetal nuchal cord associated with autism spectrum disorder? A meta-analysis

  • Jenabi, Ensiyeh (Autism Spectrum Disorders Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Ahmadi, Maryam (Clinical Research Development Unit of Fatemieh Hospital, Department of Gynecology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences) ;
  • Maleki, Azam (Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences)
  • Received : 2021.04.21
  • Accepted : 2021.09.13
  • Published : 2022.03.15
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Abstract

Purpose: There is inconsistent evidence about the association between fetal nuchal cord and the risk of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We performed a meta-analysis to investigate whether fetal nuchal cord is associated with an increased risk of ASD in offspring. Methods: Three main English databases were searched until January 2021. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess study quality. Study heterogeneity was determined using the I 2 statistic, while publication bias was assessed using Begg and Egger tests. Results are presented as odds ratios (ORs) and relative ratios with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and were determined by a random-effects model. Results: Five articles (1 cohort, 4 case-control; 3,088 total children) were included in the present meta-analysis. Fetal nuchal cord was not a risk factor for ASD (OR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.66-1.57). There was homogeneity among studies that reported a risk of ASD (I2=0.0%). Conclusion: Our results showed that fetal nuchal cord is not a risk factor for ASD. Future large cohort studies should confirm this finding.

Keywords

Acknowledgement

We thank Hamadan University for its financial support with approval code 1400011035.

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