Labor Epidural Analgesia Is Not Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder or ADHD in Offspring

Gallo, Maria F. PhD

Professor, Chair, and Associate Dean of Research, College of Public Health, Division of Epidemiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus

OB/GYN Clinical Alert 39(7):p 51-53, November 2022.

SYNOPSIS: Use of epidural analgesia by pregnant women in labor was not associated with an increased risk of autism spectrum disorder or attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder in the resulting children after controlling for confounding factors, including familial risks.

SOURCE: Hegvik T-A, Klungsøyr K, Kuja-Halkola R, et al. Labor epidural analgesia and subsequent risk of offspring autism spectrum disorder and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: A cross-national cohort study of 4.5 million individuals and their siblings. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2022; Aug 13. doi: 10.1016/j.ajog.2022.08.016. [Online ahead of print].