Restrepo Bibiana, Taylor Sandra L, Dominic Ponzini Matthew, Angkustsiri Kathleen, Solomon Marjorie, Rogers Sally J, Ashwood Paul, Say Daphne S, Caceres Sonny, Alavynejad Shayan, Heath Brianna, Amaral David G, Wu Nordahl Christine
MIND (Medical Investigations of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute, University of California, Davis, CA.
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA.
Autism. 2025 Aug 28:13623613251362349. doi: 10.1177/13623613251362349.
Gastrointestinal symptoms are frequently reported in children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. This study sought to determine the longitudinal trajectory of gastrointestinal symptoms without a medical etiology in children with autism compared to similar aged participants with typical development. A total of 475 children enrolled in this longitudinal study (322 autism spectrum disorder and 153 typical development groups) were evaluated at up to three time points between 2 and 12 years of age. Nine common gastrointestinal symptoms and formal medical gastrointestinal diagnosis were assessed using a physician-administered parent interview. A rigorous symptom classification was performed by physicians via clinical consensus. The frequency and persistence of gastrointestinal symptoms across childhood were compared between groups. Associations between gastrointestinal symptoms and measures of internalizing and externalizing behaviors, sleep problems, sensory problems, restricted and repetitive behaviors, and social communication were also evaluated. Children with autism presented with more gastrointestinal symptoms at each time point, and they were also more likely to experience multiple and persistent gastrointestinal symptoms. The presence and number of gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with greater impairment in internalizing behaviors, sleep, communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors. Participants in the autism spectrum disorder group reported more gastrointestinal symptoms without known etiology throughout childhood in this longitudinal well-characterized sample.Lay AbstractChildren with autism have been found to experience more medical issues including gastrointestinal symptoms. In this study, participants in the autism group were more likely to experience gastrointestinal symptoms than their typically developing peers. They were also more likely to experience multiple gastrointestinal symptoms at the same time and more likely to have persistent gastrointestinal symptoms throughout their childhood. Increased gastrointestinal symptoms were associated with more challenges with sleep, communication, sensory processing, and repetitive behaviors. Clinicians and parents should become more aware of the high occurrence of gastrointestinal problems in children with autism. If identified, these symptoms are often treatable which may improve their well-being.
在被诊断为自闭症谱系障碍的儿童中，胃肠道症状经常被报告。本研究旨在确定与年龄相仿的发育正常儿童相比，自闭症儿童无医学病因的胃肠道症状的纵向轨迹。共有475名儿童参与了这项纵向研究（322名自闭症谱系障碍组和153名发育正常组），在2至12岁之间的多达三个时间点进行了评估。使用医生进行的家长访谈评估了九种常见的胃肠道症状和正式的医学胃肠道诊断。医生通过临床共识进行了严格的症状分类。比较了两组儿童在整个童年时期胃肠道症状的频率和持续性。还评估了胃肠道症状与内化和外化行为、睡眠问题、感觉问题、受限和重复行为以及社交沟通测量之间的关联。自闭症儿童在每个时间点出现的胃肠道症状更多，并且他们也更有可能经历多种和持续的胃肠道症状。胃肠道症状的存在和数量与内化行为、睡眠、沟通、感觉处理和重复行为方面的更大损害有关。在这个纵向特征明确的样本中，自闭症谱系障碍组的参与者在整个童年时期报告了更多无已知病因的胃肠道症状。
已发现自闭症儿童会经历更多的医学问题，包括胃肠道症状。在这项研究中，自闭症组的参与者比发育正常的同龄人更容易出现胃肠道症状。他们同时出现多种胃肠道症状的可能性也更大，并且在整个童年时期出现持续性胃肠道症状的可能性也更大。胃肠道症状增加与睡眠、沟通、感觉处理和重复行为方面的更多挑战有关。临床医生和家长应该更加意识到自闭症儿童胃肠道问题的高发率。如果被发现，这些症状通常是可以治疗的，这可能会改善他们的健康状况。
