Transtorno do espectro autista relacionado a prematuridade e ao baixo peso ao nascer: uma revisão integrativa.

Abstract

This integrative review aimed to map the possible relationship between autism spectrum disorder (ASD) with low birth weight and premature birth. The search for primary studies was carried out in the PubMed, BVS/Lilacs and SciELO databases, using “Boolean operators” and descriptors in Portuguese, English and Spanish as a search strategy. A total of 1,174 articles were identified, and after verifying the eligibility criteria, only 1,137 were selected for reading the title and abstract. Thus, 06 manuscripts comprised the final sample of articles after full reading. The studies that comprised the final sample provided information on the interconnection between low birth weight, prematurity and ASD, with the majority using questionnaires with caregivers and the early diagnosis of ASD occurring between 18-36 months. It is concluded that, among the studies that comprised the final sample of this review, low birth weight and premature birth are interrelated in varying ways with the manifestation of signs of ASD at different times during the child's development. However, these results demonstrate the insufficiency of establishing a cause-consequence relationship between these events over time and/or a single cause for the development of ASD.