"Risk of Autism Spectrum Disorder in Descendants of Women With Gestational Diabetes and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis".

This large review looked at whether mothers with diabetes during pregnancy or PCOS (a hormone condition) are more likely to have children with autism. They found a small but real increase in autism risk: 23% higher with pregnancy diabetes and 35% higher with PCOS. The risk was even higher when mothers had both diabetes and obesity during pregnancy.

This systematic review and meta-analysis examined 24 studies (1980-2023) investigating the relationship between maternal gestational diabetes (GD) and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in offspring. The analysis found a statistically significant 23% increased risk of ASD in children of mothers with gestational diabetes (RR=1.23, 95% CI 1.13-1.34) and a 35% increased risk in children of mothers with PCOS (RR=1.35, 95% CI 1.17-1.56). The risk was particularly elevated when gestational diabetes occurred alongside maternal obesity. All included studies were from the northern hemisphere, highlighting a geographical limitation in current research.

Healthcare providers should consider increased developmental monitoring for children of mothers with gestational diabetes or PCOS. Early screening protocols may be beneficial for these at-risk populations. The findings support the importance of optimal management of maternal metabolic conditions during pregnancy.

All studies were from the northern hemisphere, limiting geographical generalizability. The analysis did not examine varying androgen levels in PCOS or timing of gestational diabetes diagnosis. Potential confounding variables were not fully addressed across studies.

Some reports show that children exposed to hyperandrogenemia or hyperglycemic states in utero are more prone to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to assess the association between Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or gestational diabetes (GD) and ASD. A systematic review (1980-2023) in Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus, using specific search terms "gestational diabetes", "polycystic ovary syndrome," "neurodevelopmental disorder" and "autism spectrum disorder" was performed. Generic inverse-variance method was used to pool the adjusted or crude effect measures with a random-effects model.

Results were presented as relative risk (RR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). Only studies from the northern hemisphere were found. All the articles evaluated the association between either GD (n = 16) or PCOS (8) and ASD separately. The overall analysis revealed that there is an increased risk of ASD in the offspring of women diagnosed with GD [RR = 1.23 (95% CI 1.13-1.34), n = 14] and in women diagnosed with PCOS [RR = 1.35 (95% CI 1.17-1.56), n = 6].

In a sensitivity analysis, the risk of ASD was particularly higher in mothers with GD and obesity. Although both GD and PCOS have been associated with ASD in offspring, studies in other geographical regions are needed. Future research should investigate how varying androgen levels in PCOS and the timing of GD diagnosis might influence the observed associations. Additional studies are needed to confirm these associations, address potential confounding variables, and explore whether these maternal conditions contribute directly or indirectly to autism risk.