Refereed journal article or data article (A1)
Antipsychotic use in pregnancy and risk of attention/deficit-hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder: a Nordic cohort study
List of Authors: Hálfdánarson Óscar, Cohen Jacueline M, Karlstad Øystein, Cesta Carolyn E, Bjørk Marte-Helene, Håberg Siri Eldevik, Einarsdóttir Kristjana, Furu Kari, Gissler Mika, Hjellvik Vidar, Kieler Helle, Leinonen Maarit K, Nørgaard Mette, Essen Buket Öztürk, Ulrichsen Sinna Pilgaard, Reutfors Johan, Zoega Helga
Publisher: BMJ PUBLISHING GROUP
Publication year: 2022
Journal: Evidence-Based Mental Health
Journal name in source: EVIDENCE-BASED MENTAL HEALTH
Journal acronym: EVID-BASED MENT HEAL
Volume number: 25
Issue number: 2
Start page: 54
End page: 62
Number of pages: 9
ISSN: 1362-0347
eISSN: 1468-960X
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/ebmental-2021-300311
URL: https://ebmh.bmj.com/content/early/2021/11/28/ebmental-2021-300311
Self-archived copy’s web address: https://research.utu.fi/converis/portal/detail/Publication/68512803
Background Antipsychotics are increasingly used among women of childbearing age and during pregnancy.
Objective To determine whether children exposed to antipsychotics in utero are at increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), accounting for maternal diagnoses of bipolar, psychotic and other psychiatric disorders.
Design Population-based cohort study, including a sibling analysis.
Setting Nationwide data on all pregnant women and their live-born singletons in Denmark (1997-2017), Finland (1996-2016), Iceland (2004-2017), Norway (2004-2017), and Sweden (2006-2016).
Participants 4 324 086 children were eligible for inclusion to the study cohort.
Intervention Antipsychotic exposure in utero, assessed by pregnancy trimester, type of antipsychotic, and varying patterns of use.
Main outcome measures Non-mutually exclusive diagnoses of ADHD and ASD. We used Cox proportional hazard models to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) controlling for maternal psychiatric disorders and other potential confounding factors.
Findings Among 4 324 086 singleton births, 15 466 (0.4%) were exposed to antipsychotics in utero. During a median follow-up of 10 years, we identified 72 257 children with ADHD and 38 674 children with ASD. Unadjusted HRs were raised for both outcomes but shifted substantially towards the null after adjustment; 1.10 (95%CI 1.00 to 1.27) for ADHD and 1.12 (0.97 to 1.29) for ASD. Adjusted HRs remained consistent by trimester of exposure and type of antipsychotic. Comparing in utero exposure with pre-pregnancy use yielded HRs of 0.74 (0.62 to 0.87) for ADHD and 0.88 (0.70 to 1.10) for ASD. Sibling analyses yielded HRs of 1.14 (0.79 to 1.64) for ADHD and 1.34 (0.75 to 2.39) for ASD.
Discussion Our findings suggest little or no increased risk of child ADHD or ASD after in utero exposure to antipsychotics.
Clinical implications Results regarding child neurodevelopment are reassuring for women who need antipsychotics during pregnancy.
Downloadable publication This is an electronic reprint of the original article. |