Autism risk in neonatal intensive care unit patients associated with novel heart rate patterns

CONCLUSION: High HRskw in NICU males, perhaps representing autonomic imbalance, was associated with increased ASD risk. Further study is needed to determine whether HR analysis identifies highest-risk infants who might benefit from earlier screening and therapies.IMPACT: In a large retrospective single-center cohort of NICU patients, we found that high positive skewness of heart rate toward more accelerations was significantly associated with increased risk of eventual autism spectrum disorder diagnosis in male infants but not in females. Existing literature describes differences in heart rate characteristics in children, adolescents, and adults with autism spectrum disorders, but the finding from our study in NICU infants is novel. Heart rate analysis during the NICU stay might identify, among an inherently high-risk population, those infants with especially high risk of ASD who might benefit from earlier screening and therapies.PMID:33603208 | DOI:10.1038/s41390-021-01381-1

Source: Pediatric Research - February 19, 2021 Category: Pediatrics Authors: Kaitlin R Blackard Katy N Krahn Robert T Andris Douglas E Lake Karen D Fairchild Source Type: research