Prenatal risk factors for autism: comprehensive meta-analysis

The aetiology of autism is unknown, although prenatal exposures have been the focus of epidemiological research for over 40 years.

To provide the first quantitative review and meta-analysis of the association between maternal pregnancy complications and pregnancy-related factors and risk of autism. METHOD: PubMed, Embase and PsycINFO databases were searched for epidemiological studies that examined the association between pregnancy-related factors and autism. Forty studies were eligible for inclusion in the meta-analysis. Summary effect estimates were calculated for factors examined in multiple studies.