Cohort Study: No increased risk of autism, ADHD, or intellectual disability from acetaminophen use in pregnancy

This cohort study investigated the association between acetaminophen use during pregnancy and the risk of autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability in children. The study utilized a population-based sample of nearly 2.5 million Swedish children born between 1995 and 2019, with data analyzed up to 2021. Initial findings without sibling controls suggested a marginal increase in the risks of autism and ADHD. However, sibling control analyses, which help adjust for familial confounding, showed no significant associations (HR for autism and ADHD at 0.98, and intellectual disability at 1.01). These results imply that earlier observed risks might be due to unaccounted familial factors, not acetaminophen exposure.

Reference (link to abstract – $ for full-text):

Viktor H. Ahlqvist et al. (2024). Acetaminophen Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability. JAMA, 331(14), 1205-1214. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2024.3172