Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol

Background

Prenatal alcohol exposure can affect neurodevelopment, but few studies have examined associations with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Methods

We assessed the association between maternal alcohol use and ASD in the Study to Explore Early Development, a multi-site case-control study of children born September 2003 – August 2006 in the U.S. Regression analyses included 684 children with research clinician-confirmed ASD, 869 children with non-ASD developmental delays or disorders (DDs) and 962 controls ascertained from the general population (POP). Maternal alcohol exposure during each month from three months prior to conception until delivery was assessed by self-report.

Results

Mothers of POP children were more likely to report any prenatal alcohol use than mothers of children with ASD or DD. In trimester one, 21.2% of mothers of POP children reported alcohol use compared to 18.1% and 18.2% of mothers of children with ASD or DD, respectively (adjusted OR for ASD versus POP 0.8, 95% confidence interval 0.6, 1.1). During preconception and the first month of pregnancy, 1–2 drinks on average per week was inversely associated with ASD risk.

Conclusions

These results do not support an adverse association between low-level alcohol exposure and ASD, though these findings were based retrospective self-reported alcohol use. Unmeasured confounding or exposure misclassification may explain inverse associations with 1–2 drinks per week. Pregnant or potentially pregnant women should continue to follow recommendations to avoid alcohol use because of other known effects on infant health and neurodevelopment.

28881390

PMC5690833

Journal Article

CDC Public Access