Table 5.
Comparison of gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS) between children with an autism spectrum disorder with and without regression in speech or social skills
| GIS questionnaire only (GIS/PR) | Regression | No regression | Regression vs. No regression |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| (n = 161) n (%) | (n = 472) n (%) | Crude OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | |
| Current GIS(overall) | 69 (42.9) | 150 (31.8) | 1.61 (1.46–1.78)* | 1.53(1.33–1.77)* |
| Vomiting | 15 (9.3) | 15 (3.2) | 3.13 (1.56–6.26)* | 2.67 (1.54–4.61)* |
| Diarrhea | 30 (18.6) | 33 (7.0) | 3.05 (1.68–5.53)* | 2.77 (1.59–4.82)* |
| Loose stools | 36 (22.4) | 63 (13.3) | 1.87 (1.07–3.26)* | 1.85 (1.03–3.36)* |
| Constipation | 46 (28.6) | 104 (22.0) | 1.42 (1.08–1.86)* | 1.43 (1.05–1.96)* |
| Loose alternating with Constipation | 32 (19.9) | 59 (12.5) | 1.74 (1.34–2.26)* | 1.83 (1.35–2.48)* |
| Abdominal pain with meals | 12 (7.5) | 21 (4.4) | 1.73 (0.94–3.19) | 1.85 (0.84–4.08) |
| Abdominal pain relieved by defecation | 18 (11.2) | 32 (6.8) | 1.73 (1.16–2.58)* | 1.86 (1.32–2.63)* |
| Pain on stooling | 23 (14.3) | 57 (12.1) | 1.21 (0.67–2.18) | 1.22 (0.68–2.19) |
| Gas | 33 (20.5) | 70 (14.8) | 1.48 (0.95–2.31) | 1.43 (0.87–2.37) |
| Other | 10 (6.2) | 23 (4.9) | 1.29 (0.48–3.47) | 1.54 (0.70–3.39) |
| Past GI problems (no longer present) | 50 (31.1)a | 124 (26.3)a | 1.25 (0.91–1.73) | 1.33 (0.90–1.96) |
| Treatment for Constipation | 32 (19.9)b | 69 (14.6)b | 1.41 (1.03–1.93)* | 1.35 (0.89–2.03) |
|
GIS based on an algorithm combining gastrointestinal questionnaire and stool diary using the Bristol stool scale (GIS/PRSD) | ||||
| Gastrointestinal symptom (GIS/PRSD) | Regression | No regression | Regression vs. No regression |
|
| (n = 82) n (%) | (n = 241) n (%) | Crude OR (95% CI) | Adjusted OR (95% CI) | |
|
| ||||
| GI problems (any of the above) | 41 (50.0) | 123 (51.0) | 0.96 (0.74–1.24) | 0.86 (0.62–1.19) |
| Four or more stools per day | 2(2.4) | 3(1.2) | 1.98(0.22–17.68) | 2.60 (0.23–29.72) |
| Constipation: 2 or more hard stools/week, < 3 stools/week and at least one is hard, use of laxative or stool softener | 17 (20.7) | 61 (25.3) | 0.77 (0.52–1.14) | 0.71 (0.51–0.99)* |
| Loose stool or diarrhea | 13 (15.9) | 18 (7.5) | 2.33 (1.32–4.12)* | 1.88 (1.29–2.76)* |
| Vomiting | 11 (13.4) | 14 (5.8) | 2.51 (1.34–4.70)* | 2.31 (1.13–4.70)* |
| Abdominal pain: pain on stooling, pain relieved by stooling, pain during meals | 13 (15.9) | 42 (17.4) | 0.89 (0.45–1.79) | 0.89 (0.43–1.81) |
| Gas | 13 (15.9) | 35 (14.5) | 1.11 (0.61–2.02) | 1.20 (0.63–2.27) |
All models are adjusted form maternal race/ethnicity, education level, age at child’s birth, child sex, genetic condition, and Mullen Scales of Early Learning score, and accounted for correlation by enrollment site
*
p-value < 0.05
a
Percent calculated from total of 166 with regression and 476 without regression
b
Percent calculated from total of 157 with regression and 457 without regression