Abstract
Background
Studies have indicated an increased risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a small, sex-specific association with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among children prenatally exposed to obstetric oxytocin. Since oxytocin is used in approximately half of all deliveries among nulliparous women, these potentially deleterious effects are of concern. Thus, we aimed to examine whether prenatal oxytocin exposure for labour induction and augmentation is associated with ADHD and ASD in offspring born in Denmark or Finland.
Methods
This population-based study used data from national registers in Denmark and Finland. Singletons born in Denmark 2000-2010 (n=577,380) and Finland 1991-2010 (n=945,543) who survived infancy were followed until December 31th 2015. ADHD and ASD were defined using diagnostic codes. For ADHD, we also included information on prescribed and redeemed ADHD-medication in the definition. Hazards Ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) modelled with age as the underlying time scale was used to estimate the associations.
Results
Oxytocin was used in 31% and 46% of the deliveries in Denmark and Finland, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, prenatal oxytocin exposure was associated with slightly increased risk of both ADHD and ASD. However, adjustment almost entirely attenuated the associations: ADHD: (HR=1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.05) and ASD: (HR=1.05, 95% CI, 1.02-1.08). The results were similar in Denmark and Finland, and for boys and girls.
Conclusion
There appears to be no clinically meaningful association between synthetic oxytocin and ADHD or ASD. Our results help to allay concerns of prenatal use of oxytocin causing ADHD or ASD.
Studies have indicated an increased risk of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and a small, sex-specific association with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) among children prenatally exposed to obstetric oxytocin. Since oxytocin is used in approximately half of all deliveries among nulliparous women, these potentially deleterious effects are of concern. Thus, we aimed to examine whether prenatal oxytocin exposure for labour induction and augmentation is associated with ADHD and ASD in offspring born in Denmark or Finland.
Methods
This population-based study used data from national registers in Denmark and Finland. Singletons born in Denmark 2000-2010 (n=577,380) and Finland 1991-2010 (n=945,543) who survived infancy were followed until December 31th 2015. ADHD and ASD were defined using diagnostic codes. For ADHD, we also included information on prescribed and redeemed ADHD-medication in the definition. Hazards Ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) modelled with age as the underlying time scale was used to estimate the associations.
Results
Oxytocin was used in 31% and 46% of the deliveries in Denmark and Finland, respectively. In unadjusted analyses, prenatal oxytocin exposure was associated with slightly increased risk of both ADHD and ASD. However, adjustment almost entirely attenuated the associations: ADHD: (HR=1.03, 95% CI, 1.01-1.05) and ASD: (HR=1.05, 95% CI, 1.02-1.08). The results were similar in Denmark and Finland, and for boys and girls.
Conclusion
There appears to be no clinically meaningful association between synthetic oxytocin and ADHD or ASD. Our results help to allay concerns of prenatal use of oxytocin causing ADHD or ASD.
| Originalsprog | Engelsk |
|---|---|
| Publikationsdato | 18. sep. 2019 |
| Status | Udgivet - 18. sep. 2019 |
| Begivenhed | 9th Nordic Conference of Epidemiology and Register-Based Health Research: 2019 - Tampere University, Tampere, Finland Varighed: 18. sep. 2019 → 20. sep. 2019 https://events.tuni.fi/nordicepi2019/ |
Konference
| Konference | 9th Nordic Conference of Epidemiology and Register-Based Health Research |
|---|---|
| Lokation | Tampere University |
| Land/Område | Finland |
| By | Tampere |
| Periode | 18/09/2019 → 20/09/2019 |
| Internetadresse |