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Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in a Midwestern City: Child Characteristics, Maternal Risk Traits, and Prevalence
Author(s) -
May Philip A.,
Hasken Julie M.,
Baete Amy,
Russo Jaymi,
Elliott Amy J.,
Kalberg Wendy O.,
Buckley David,
Brooks Marita,
Ortega Marian A.,
Hedrick Dixie M.,
Tabachnick Barbara G.,
AbdulRahman Omar,
Adam Margaret P.,
Jewett Tamison,
Robinson Luther K.,
Manning Melanie A.,
Hoyme H. Eugene
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/acer.14314
Subject(s) - medicine , fetal alcohol syndrome , cohort , pregnancy , fetal alcohol , pediatrics , cohort study , demography , genetics , sociology , biology
Objective To determine the characteristics of children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) and their mothers in a Midwestern city. Methods Case–control samples were drawn from 2 separate first‐grade cohorts (combined N = 4,047) in every city school using different methods. In Cohort Sample 1, all consented small children (≤25th centile on height, weight, and/or head circumference) entered the study along with a random sample from all enrolled students. Cohort Sample 2 was drawn totally at random. Child growth, dysmorphology, and neurobehavior were assessed using the Collaboration on FASD Prevalence (CoFASP) criteria, and mothers were interviewed. Results For the samples combined, 891 children received dysmorphology examinations, and 692 were case‐conferenced for final diagnosis. Forty‐four children met criteria for FASD. Total dysmorphology scores differentiated diagnostic groups: fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), 16.7; partial FAS, 11.8; alcohol‐related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND), 6.1; and typically developing controls, 4.2. Neurobehavioral tests distinguished children with FASD from controls, more for behavioral problems than cognitive delay. Children with ARND demonstrated the poorest neurobehavioral indicators. An adjusted regression model of usual prepregnancy drinking indicated that maternal reports of 3 drinks per drinking day (DDD) were significantly associated with a FASD diagnosis ( p = 0.020, OR = 10.1, 95% CI = 1.44 to 70.54), as were 5 or more DDD ( p < 0.001, OR = 26.47, 95% CI = 4.65 to 150.62). Other significant maternal risk factors included the following: self‐reported drinking in any trimester; smoking and cocaine use during pregnancy; later pregnancy recognition and later and less prenatal care; lower maternal weight, body mass index (BMI), and head circumference; and unmarried status. There was no significant difference in FASD prevalence by race, Hispanic ethnicity, or socioeconomic status at this site, where the prevalence of FASD was 14.4 to 41.2 per 1,000 (1.4 to 4.1%). Conclusion This city displayed the lowest prevalence of FASD of the 4 CoFASP sites. Nevertheless, FASD were common, and affected children demonstrated a common, recognizable, and measurable array of traits.