Öz
Objective: The increase in the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders over the last two decades has led to a renewed debate concerning the importance of the relationship between changes in environmental conditions and autism. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively examine various environmental risk factors in patients with autism.
Material and Methods: Patients being followed-up with diagnosis of autism at the Van Education and Research Hospital Pediatric Neurology Polyclinic, Turkey, were screened retrospectively. Healthy children in a similar age group were included as the control group. These two groups were then compared in terms of the presence of hypoxia and prematurity, breastfeeding and the duration thereof, age at first exposure to television, and television, mobile phone and tablet use times.
Results: A total of 126 children, 66 in the autism group and 60 in the control group, were included in the study. No difference was observed between the groups in terms of history of prematurity and hypoxic effects. Children who had never breastfed were more numerous in the autism group (p = 0.018). Duration of breastfeeding was shorter in patients diagnosed with autism (autism: 8.489.19-month, control: 13.188.64 month, p=0.001). No significant difference was observed between autism group and control group concerning age at first exposure to television. The rate of watching television for 4 h or more was significantly higher in the autism group (p = 0.020). Similarly, time spent on tablets and mobile phones was significantly longer in patients with autism (p = 0.001).
Conclusion: Absence of breastfeeding and a short duration of breastfeeding may be associated with an increased risk of autism. Increased duration of use of screens such as televisions, tablets and mobile phones may be a factor that facilitates or triggers the emergence of the clinical manifestation in children with a predisposition to autism.