Maternal Health in Pregnancy and Intellectual Disability in the Offspring: A Population-Based Study

Purpose

The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between common maternal conditions and intellectual disability (ID) of unknown cause in the offspring.

Methods

Information about the maternal health of children with and without ID was obtained by using record linkage. For mothers with specific medical conditions, proportions of children with mild to moderate ID, severe ID, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with ID were compared with those who did not have ID.

Results

There was an increased risk for mild to moderate ID in children of mothers with asthma (odds ratio [OR], 1.52; confidence interval [CI], 1.26–1.83]), diabetes (OR, 1.69; CI, 1.26–2.27), a renal or urinary condition (OR, 2.09; CI, 1.39–3.14), and epilepsy (OR, 3.53; CI, 2.56–4.84). ASD risk was increased for children of women with diabetes (OR, 2.89; CI, 1.28–6.51) and epilepsy (OR, 4.57; CI, 1.69–12.31). For anemia (n = 1101), there was an increased risk for severe ID (OR, 5.26; CI, 2.16–12.80).

Conclusions

The increased risk for ID in offspring of mothers with such conditions as asthma and diabetes is particularly important for disadvantaged or ethnic populations, for whom these conditions are more prevalent and may be less well managed.

Key words: Maternal Health, Pregnancy, Intellectual Disability, Mental Retardation, Asthma, Diabetes, Australia

Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms: ID, intellectual disability, WA, Western Australia, ASD, autistic spectrum disorder, ICD-9, International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, AED, antiepileptic drug, IQ, intelligence quotient, CD, Census Collector District, OR, odds ratio, CI, confidence interval