[Association of maternal prepregnancy overweight and gestational diabetes with autistic-like behaviors in children].

Objective

To investigate the association of prepregnancy overweight/obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) with autistic-like behaviors in children.

Methods

The data from the Ma'anshan Birth Cohort between May 2013 and September 2014 were used,the information about prepregnancy weight, height, gestational weight gain, and pregnancy complications were collected in the first, second, and third trimesters. Children were screened for autistic-like behaviors at 18 months of age. Logistic regression models were used to analyze the association of prepregnancy overweight/obesity and GDM with autistic-like behaviors in children. Multiplicative and additive interaction analyses were conducted to explore potential interactive effects of maternal prepregnancy overweight/obesity and GDM on autistic-like behaviors risk.

Results

In the cohort, 401 cases (12.9%) of GDM and 309 cases (9.7%) of prepregnancy overweight were detected, respectively. A total of 432 cases (13.8%) children were screened to be positive for autism-like behaviors at 18 months of age. Logistic regression analysis revealed that both GDM and prepregnancy overweight/obesity showed significant positive associations with autistic-like behaviors in children (OR=1.41, 95%CI: 1.06-1.88; OR=1.43, 95%CI: 1.04-1.97). GDM complicated with prepregnancy overweight/obesity had a higher association with autistic-like behaviors in children (OR=2.42, 95%CI: 1.50-3.90), multiplicative interaction model analysis showed significant interactive effect between GDM and prepregnancy overweight/obesity on autistic-like behaviors risk in children (OR=2.29,95%CI:1.42-3.69).

Conclusions

Prepregnancy overweight/obesity and GDM might increase the risk for social developmental disorders in children. Close attention should be paied to prepregnancy weight management and health monitoring for children exposed to these high-risk prenatal factors.