Figure 3. Association Between Analgesic Use During Pregnancy and Children’s Risk of Autism, ADHD, and Intellectual Disability.

Absolute risk difference is the difference in absolute risk at 10 years of age between exposed and unexposed children, expressed as a percentage. For example, the 0.09% absolute difference for acetaminophen and autism can be interpreted as follows: the risk of child autism at 10 years of age is 0.09% higher with acetaminophen use compared with no acetaminophen use. The population-based model was adjusted for birth cohort; child sex; all other analgesics; birthing parent’s diagnoses of migraine, chronic pain, infections, fevers, rheumatoid arthritis, and headaches; calendar period of delivery; parity; age at delivery (linear and cubic term); country of birth; residential region; cohabitation at delivery; early pregnancy body mass index; smoking status; diagnosis of autism, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and intellectual disability; history of psychiatric conditions and prescription use of psycholeptics, antidepressants, and antiseizure medication; health care visits in the year before pregnancy and an inadequate number of antenatal visits; and the highest household education and disposable income. The sibling control model was adjusted for all of the above excluding birthing parent’s birth country, psychiatric history, and diagnosis autism, ADHD, and intellectual disability. NSAID indicates nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug.