Editor’s PicksAssociation of Epidural Analgesia During L&D With Autism Spectrum Disorder in OffspringHanley, G.E.; Bickford, C.; Ip, A.; Lanphear, N.; Lanphear, B.; Weikum, W.; Zwaigenbaum, L.; Oberlander, T.F. Author Information Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada Obstetric Anesthesia Digest 42(2):p 53-54, June 2022. | DOI: 10.1097/01.aoa.0000827772.18871.ce Buy Metrics Abstract (JAMA. 2021;326:1178–1185) Although epidural analgesia is a common and safe modality for pain relief during labor and delivery, few studies have examined long-term outcomes. Since 2000 the diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in children has increased from 1 in 150 to 1 in 54 in 2016 in the United States. Inconsistent and conflicting studies have suggested there may be a relationship between epidural analgesia and a later diagnosis of ASD. Considering epidural analgesia use is reported at 57% in Canada and higher than 70% in the United States, millions of newborns in both countries could be impacted. The aim of this population-based study of British Columbia, Canada evaluated the association between ASD in offspring and maternal epidural analgesia use during delivery. Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.
