Association of physical activity and sleep habits during pregnancy with autistic spectrum disorder in 3-year-old infants

doi:10.1038/s43856-022-00101-y

. 2022 Apr 5:2:35.

doi: 10.1038/s43856-022-00101-y. eCollection 2022.

Association of physical activity and sleep habits during pregnancy with autistic spectrum disorder in 3-year-old infants

Kazushige Nakahara^#¹, Takehiro Michikawa^#², Seiichi Morokuma^{3

4}, Norio Hamada^{1

4}, Masanobu Ogawa^{1

4}, Kiyoko Kato^{1

4}, Masafumi Sanefuji^{4

5}, Eiji Shibata^{6

7}, Mayumi Tsuji^{6

8}, Masayuki Shimono^{6

9}, Toshihiro Kawamoto⁶, Shouichi Ohga^{4

5}, Koichi Kusuhara^{6

9}; Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group

Collaborators, Affiliations

Collaborators

Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group:
Michihiro Kamijima, Shin Yamazaki, Yukihiro Ohya, Reiko Kishi, Nobuo Yaegashi, Koichi Hashimoto, Chisato Mori, Shuichi Ito, Zentaro Yamagata, Hidekuni Inadera, Takeo Nakayama, Hiroyasu Iso, Masayuki Shima, Youichi Kurozawa, Narufumi Suganuma, Takahiko Katoh

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
² Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁴ Research Center for Environment and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁶ Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁸ Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Japan.
⁹ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Japan.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35603288
PMCID: PMC9053216
DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00101-y

Association of physical activity and sleep habits during pregnancy with autistic spectrum disorder in 3-year-old infants

Kazushige Nakahara et al. Commun Med (Lond). 2022.

. 2022 Apr 5:2:35.

doi: 10.1038/s43856-022-00101-y. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Collaborators

Japan Environment and Children’s Study Group:
Michihiro Kamijima, Shin Yamazaki, Yukihiro Ohya, Reiko Kishi, Nobuo Yaegashi, Koichi Hashimoto, Chisato Mori, Shuichi Ito, Zentaro Yamagata, Hidekuni Inadera, Takeo Nakayama, Hiroyasu Iso, Masayuki Shima, Youichi Kurozawa, Narufumi Suganuma, Takahiko Katoh

Affiliations

¹ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
² Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan.
³ Department of Health Sciences, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁴ Research Center for Environment and Developmental Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁵ Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁶ Regional Center for Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Japan.
⁷ Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan.
⁸ Department of Environmental Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Japan.
⁹ Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Japan.

^# Contributed equally.

PMID: 35603288
PMCID: PMC9053216
DOI: 10.1038/s43856-022-00101-y

Abstract

Background: We hypothesized that maternal lifestyle factors, such as physical activity and sleep habits, may be associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in infants. This study aimed to investigate the association between maternal physical activity and sleep before and during pregnancy with infant ASD diagnosed by the age of 3 years.

Methods: We used the data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study between 2011 and 2014. The study included 103,060 pregnant women, among which, 69,969 women were analyzed. Participants were asked about their physical activity and sleep before and during pregnancy using questionnaires during pregnancy. Maternal physical activity was estimated using the international physical activity questionnaire. Based on the levels of physical activity before or during pregnancy, the participants were divided into five groups. Maternal sleep was analyzed based on sleep duration and bedtime. The outcome was diagnosis of ASD in 3-year-old infants.

Results: In mothers with higher physical activity levels during pregnancy, the risk ratios (RR) for ASD in their 3-year-old infants were lower (RR = 0.61, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.42-0.90). In contrast, too short (<6 h) and too long (>10 h) sleep durations during pregnancy were associated with higher risk ratios for ASD than 7-8 h sleep duration (too short: RR = 1.87, 95% CI = 1.21-2.90; too long: RR = 1.56, 95% CI = 1.00-2.48). These associations were not observed before pregnancy.

Conclusion: Maternal physical activity and sleep duration during pregnancy may be associated with ASD in infants.

Keywords: Autism spectrum disorders; Epidemiology; Paediatric research.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interestsThe authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

**Fig. 1. Study population flowchart.**
PA physical activity, M-T1 questionnaire administered at recruitment, M-T2 questionnaire administered during mid- or late pregnancy.

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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[1] Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan. Number of students taking special classes in 2014. page 1, Figure. Changes in the number of students taking special class from 1993 to 2014 (in Japanese). https://www.mext.go.jp/a_menu/shotou/tokubetu/material/__icsFiles/afield.... (2014).

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[3] Schendel DE, Thorsteinsson E. Cumulative incidence of autism into adulthood for birth cohorts in Denmark, 1980-2012. JAMA. 2018;320:1811–1813. - PMC - PubMed

[4] Schendel DE, Thorsteinsson E. Cumulative incidence of autism into adulthood for birth cohorts in Denmark, 1980-2012. JAMA. 2018;320:1811–1813. - PMC - PubMed

[5] Zablotsky B, et al. Prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities among children in the United States: 2009–2017. Pediatrics. 2019;144:2009–2017. - PMC - PubMed

[6] Zablotsky B, et al. Prevalence and trends of developmental disabilities among children in the United States: 2009–2017. Pediatrics. 2019;144:2009–2017. - PMC - PubMed

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[8] Chaste P, Leboyer M. Autism risk factors: genes, environment, and gene-environment interactions. Dialogues Clin. Neurosci. 2012;14:281–292. - PMC - PubMed

[9] Gardener H, Spiegelman D, Buka SL. Perinatal and neonatal risk factors for autism: a comprehensive meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2011;128:344–355. - PMC - PubMed

[10] Gardener H, Spiegelman D, Buka SL. Perinatal and neonatal risk factors for autism: a comprehensive meta-analysis. Pediatrics. 2011;128:344–355. - PMC - PubMed

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Association of physical activity and sleep habits during pregnancy with autistic spectrum disorder in 3-year-old infants

Collaborators

Affiliations

Association of physical activity and sleep habits during pregnancy with autistic spectrum disorder in 3-year-old infants

Authors

Collaborators

Affiliations

Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

Figures

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References

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Abstract

Conflict of interest statement

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