Autism prevalence and precipitation rates in California, Oregon, and Washington counties.
Autism prevalence and precipitation rates in California, Oregon, and Washington counties.
复制标题
加利福尼亚州、俄勒冈州和华盛顿州各县的自闭症患病率和降水率。
DOI：
10.1001/archpedi.162.11.1026
复制
发表时间：
2008
影响因子：
--
通讯作者：
John Williams
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Michael Waldman;S. Nicholson;N. Adilov;John Williams
OBJECTIVE
To investigate empirically the possibility of an environmental trigger for autism among genetically vulnerable children that is positively associated with precipitation.
DESIGN
We used regression analysis to investigate autism prevalence rates and counts first in relation to mean annual county-level precipitation and then to the amount of precipitation a birth cohort was exposed to when younger than 3 years, controlling for time trend, population size, per capita income, and demographic characteristics. In some models, we included county fixed-effects rather than a full set of covariates.
SETTING
Counties in California, Oregon, and Washington.
PARTICIPANTS
Children born in California, Oregon, and Washington between 1987 and 1999. Main Exposure County-level precipitation.
MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES
County-level autism prevalence rates and counts.
RESULTS
County-level autism prevalence rates and counts among school-aged children were positively associated with a county's mean annual precipitation. Also, the amount of precipitation a birth cohort was exposed to when younger than 3 years was positively associated with subsequent autism prevalence rates and counts in Oregon counties and California counties with a regional developmental services center.
CONCLUSIONS
These results are consistent with the existence of an environmental trigger for autism among genetically vulnerable children that is positively associated with precipitation. Further studies focused on establishing whether such a trigger exists and identifying the specific trigger are warranted.
影响因子：
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作者：
Gordon, Catherine M.;Feldman, Henry A.;Cox, Joanne E.
通讯作者：
Cox, Joanne E.