METHODS: In this study, 1,222 children with ASD and 1,206 typically developing (TD) children aged 2-7 years were enrolled from 13 cities in China. Physical measurement and basic information questionnaires were conducted in ASD and TD children. The Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS), and Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC) were used to evaluate the clinical symptoms of children with ASD. The six-item Gastrointestinal Severity Index (6-GSI) was used to evaluate the prevalence of intestinal symptoms in two groups.
RESULTS: The detection rates of constipation, stool odor, and total intestinal symptoms in ASD children were significantly higher than those in TD children (40.098% vs. 25.622%, 17.021% vs. 9.287%, and 53.601% vs. 41.294%, respectively). Autistic children presenting with intestinal comorbidity had significantly higher scores on the ABC, SRS, CARS, and multiple subscales than autistic children without intestinal symptoms, suggesting that intestinal comorbidity may exacerbates the core symptoms of ASD children.
CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal dysfunction was significantly more common in autistic than in TD children. This dysfunction may aggravate the core symptoms of children with ASD.
方法:在本研究中,来自中国13个城市的1,222名ASD儿童和1,206名2-7岁的典型发展(TD)儿童。对ASD和TD儿童进行身体测量和基本信息问卷。儿童自闭症评定量表(CARS),社会反应量表(SRS),和孤独症行为清单(ABC)用于评估ASD儿童的临床症状。采用6项胃肠道严重程度指数(6-GSI)评价两组患者的肠道症状发生率。
结果:便秘的检出率,大便气味,ASD儿童的总肠道症状明显高于TD儿童(40.098%vs.25.62%,17.021%与9.287%,和53.601%与41.294%,分别)。表现为肠道合并症的自闭症儿童在ABC上的得分明显更高,SRS,汽车,与没有肠道症状的自闭症儿童相比,提示肠道共病可能加剧ASD儿童的核心症状。
结论:孤独症患儿的肠功能障碍明显多于TD患儿。这种功能障碍可能会加重ASD儿童的核心症状。