Geographic Patterns of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children of Participants in Nurses' Health Study II.

ABSTRACT: Data indicate that the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may be increasing and that it varies geographically. We investigated associations between residential location and ASD in the children of Nurses' Health Study II (United States) participants in order to generate hypotheses about social and environmental factors related to etiology or diagnosis. Analyses included data on 13,507 children born during 1989-1999 (486 with ASD). We explored relationships between ASD and residential location both at birth and at age 6 years (i.e., closer to average age at diagnosis). Generalized additive models were used to predict ASD odds across the United States. Children born in New England were 50% more likely to be diagnosed with ASD compared with children born elsewhere in the United State

SUBMITTER: Hoffman K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5860427 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature