Association between atopic diseases and neurodevelopmental disabilities in a longitudinal birth cohort.
Xueqi Qu, Li-Ching Lee, Christine Ladd-Acosta and 5 others
PMID 35112480WHAT IT FOUND
Children with ADHD or other neurodevelopmental disabilities were significantly more likely to have asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis.
Autism showed no such link. Therapists should watch for these common allergies in patients with ADHD or developmental delays, as they may worsen symptoms.
Key findings
01Children with any neurodevelopmental disability were more likely to have asthma, atopic dermatitis, or allergic rhinitis compared to those without.
02While ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities were associated with these atopic conditions, autism spectrum disorder was not.
03Having both maternal and child atopic conditions was associated with a higher likelihood of ADHD compared to having only one.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Diagnoses were based on electronic medical record ICD codes rather than standardized clinical assessments, which may lead to misclassification. The study population was from a single urban site with a high-risk profile (low-income, minority, high rates of preterm birth), so results may not generalize to all children. The number of children with ASD was relatively small, which may have reduced the precision of estimates for that group. It is unclear whether the association is causal or if children with NDs are simply monitored more closely by healthcare providers, leading to higher detection rates of atopic diseases.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest relevant to the article.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume this association applies to autism spectrum disorder. The study found no significant link between ASD and asthma, eczema, or allergic rhinitis after adjusting for other factors. The positive findings were specific to ADHD and other neurodevelopmental disabilities.