Incidence of autism in high risk neonatal follow up

OBJECTIVE: To detect autism spectrum disorder (ASD) cases within the High Risk Neonatal Follow up Program (HRNFP), as an indicator of the prevalence of ASD and associated risk factors in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). METHODS: We conducted this retrospective medical chart review in a tertiary care hospital in Riyadh, KSA. All patients admitted to the HRNFP were seen at 3 years corrected age between January 2012 and December 2013. Patients diagnosed with ASD from the HRNFP were referred to the King Fahad Medical City (KFMC) Autism Program for further assessment. The following potential risk factors for ASD were documented: low birth weight, gestational age less than 33 weeks, and male gender. RESULTS: In 2012, 59 patients were evaluated in the HRNFP. Three cases were diagnosed with ASD, with an ASD incidence rate of 5.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] calculated by adjusted Wald method: 1.2-14.5%). In 2013, 48 patients were evaluated and 2 cases were diagnosed with ASD, with an ASD incidence rate of 4.2% (95% CI: 0.4%-14.8%). The total ASD incidence rate during the 2-year study period was 4.7% (95% CI: 1.7%-10.8%). Factors associated with a higher likelihood of ASD were: male gender, low birth weight, and gestational age less than 33 weeks. CONCLUSION: Compared with the community, the prevalence of ASD was higher in the HRNFP. Further investigation is required to evaluate risk factors.