Prenatal and Postnatal Acetaminophen Exposure Associated with Autism Spectrum and Childhood Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis in Six European Population-Based Cohorts

Alemany, S., Avella-García, C., Liew, Z . et al. Prenatal and postnatal acetaminophen exposure associated with autism spectrum and attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms in childhood: a meta-analysis in six European population-based cohorts. Eur J Epidemiol (2021) https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-021-00754-4

Commentary

This study investigated the acetaminophen exposure relationship with autism spectrum conditions (ASC) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The review included a total of 73,881 mother-child pairs in a collaborative study of six European population-based birth/child cohorts. Prenatal and postnatal (up to 18 months) exposure to acetaminophen was assessed through maternal questionnaires and interviews.ASC/ADHD symptoms were then assessed at ages 4 to 12 years using validated instruments.

Results showed that the percentage of children with borderline/clinical symptoms ranged from 0.9-12.9% for ASC and 1.2-12.2% for ADHD, and that children exposed to acetaminophen prenatally were 19-21% more likely to develop borderline and clinical ASC and ADHD symptoms later in life. Boys and girls were more likely to develop borderline and clinical ASC and ADHD symptoms. As for gender differences, boys were slightly more strongly associated with prenatal postexposure. However, postnatal exposure to acetaminophen was not associated with ASC/ADHD symptoms.