Year: 2026
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To characterize how autism spectrum disorder (ASD) risk varies with gestational age at birth. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of children born between 2011 and 2023. ASD was identified using ICD-10 codes. Each ASD case (n = 1861) was matched to ten controls using exact and propensity-score matching on sex, birth year, maternal age, ethnic sector, socioeconomic status, and region. Gestational age was grouped into clinically relevant categories, and associations with ASD were evaluated using Fisher's exact test and conditional logistic regression. RESULTS: ASD risk increased progressively with prematurity. Compared with term birth (37-42 weeks), adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) were 1.37 (1.10-1.71) at 36 weeks, 1.67 (1.30-2.15) at 34-35 weeks, 2.14 (1.43-3.18) at 32-33 weeks, 2.95 (1.89-4.59) at 28-31 weeks, and 4.37 (2.26-8.44) below 28 weeks. CONCLUSION: Earlier gestational age is associated with increased ASD risk in a dose-response manner.
Source: Journal of Perinatology
Institutions: Tel Aviv University, Israel Ministry of Health
Language: English
Subfield: Cognitive Neuroscience
Field: Neuroscience
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
Estimated APC paid: $4,790
Funder: Tel Aviv University
OpenAlex ID: W7154352985