Infant Sociality Performance And Subthreshold Autism Trait At18Months Of Age: A Cohort Study

Objective To assess sociality performance of infants during the first year, then thechildren received a follow-up assessment of subthreshold autism trait at18months of age.Aim to analyse and evaluate the relationship between infant sociality performance and latersubthreshold autism trait at18months of age. This study would provid a theoretical basisfor the investigation of tool for early screening of autism.Methods The subjects were3-month-old infants who had routine checkups when visitingthe Maternal and Child Health Centers of Ma’anshan city of Anhui Province between Mar2012and Oct2012for the first time. The participants were recruited to conduct a cohortstudy and which would follow to18months of age (combined with regular check-upsamong infants in China). Sociality performance were assessed when the subjectsrespectively were3-month-old,6-month-old,9-month-old and12-month-old by using theInfant Sociality Performance Questionnare (ISPQ). Meanwhile, the data ofsociodemographic characteristics and general information of family were collected. Thenumber of infants who took part in the ISPQ survey were1207,1026,977and948respectively at3months,6months,9months and12months of age. Subthreshold autismtrait were evaluated by using the CHAT-23Questionnaire when children were18months ofage. A total of1085children were tested by the CHAT-23Questionnaire until Jan2014.Chi-square analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used for exploring thepossible influence factors of subthreshold autism trait at18months of age. Multiple logisticregression analysis was performed for adjusting potential confounders when examining the relationship between infant sociality performance and subthreshold autism trait at18months of age.Results The number of children at18months of age which occurred subthresholdautism trait was99, the incidence of subthreshold autism trait was9.1%(99/1085).Monthly family income lower than4000yuan, introverted character in fathers, thenumber of beating case by parents was5to6times during the past six months, andnon-exclusive breastfeeding before the third months were risk factors of subthresholdautism trait at18months of age. The number of infants which participate in the study at3months,6months,9months and12months of age respectively were1085,1026,977and948. Binary logistic regression demonstrated that low score of socialityperformance at3months（RR=2.85，95%CI:1.46～5.56）,6months（RR=3.31，95%CI:1.34～8.18）and9months（RR=2.61，95%CI:1.15～5.91）of age were associatedwith higher incidence rate of subthreshold autism trait at18months of age. Lower andmedium score of sociality performance at12months were risk factors of subthresholdautism trait at18months of age.Conclusions The influence factors of subthreshold autism trait primarily weremonthly family income, father’s character, the number of beating case by parents was5to6times during the past six months, and exclusive breastfeeding case before the thirdmonths. Infant sociality performance were associated with subthreshold autism trait at18months of age. Lower score of infant sociality performance was a risk factor ofsubthreshold autism trait at18months of age. Therefore, early detection of infants withlower score of infant sociality performance and taking training as early as possible, mayhave meaningful effects for the prevention of subthreshold autism trait.