Table 6.
Comparison of mean autism severity score in children with autism spectrum disorders with and without gastrointestinal symptoms (GIS)
| GIS questionnaire only (GIS/PR) | Autism severity score mean(se) |
Difference in average Autism severity score |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GIS mean (se) | No GIS mean (se) | Crude difference (95% CI) | Adjusted difference (95% CI)a | |
| Current GI problems (overall) | 7.18 (0.18) | 7.13 (0.12) | 0.05 (− 0.12–0.22) | 0.04 (− 0.13–0.20) |
| Vomiting | 7.2 (0.26) | 7.14 (0.14) | 0.06 (− 0.45–0.56) | − 0.05 (− 0.49–0.40) |
| Diarrhea | 7.26 (0.27) | 7.13 (0.13) | 0.12 (− 0.24–0.49) | 0.04 (− 0.36–0.45) |
| Loose stools | 7.43 (0.26) | 7.09 (0.12) | 0.33 (− 0.02–0.69) | 0.26 (− 0.05–0.58) |
| Constipation | 7.2 (0.21) | 7.13 (0.12) | 0.07 (− 0.18–0.33) | 0.05 (− 0.25–0.35) |
| Loose alternating with Constipation | 7.2 (0.15) | 7.14 (0.14) | 0.07 (− 0.11–0.24) | 0.05 (− 0.13–0.23) |
| Abdominal pain with meals | 6.85 (0.36) | 7.16 (0.14) | − 0.31 (− 1.11–0.49) | − 0.15 (− 0.90–0.61) |
| Abdominal pain relieved by defecation | 6.9 (0.19) | 7.17 (0.13) | − 0.27 (− 0.54–0.01) | − 0.04 (− 0.25–0.16) |
| Pain on stooling | 6.85 (0.2) | 7.19 (0.14) | − 0.34 (− 0.70–0.03) | − 0.17 (− 0.46–0.11) |
| Gas | 7.17 (0.27) | 7.14 (0.12) | 0.03 (− 0.35–0.41) | 0.06 (− 0.31–0.44) |
| Other | 6.86 (0.37) | 7.16 (0.13) | − 0.30 (− 0.96–0.35) | − 0.27 (− 1.03–0.48) |
| Past GI problems (no longer present) | 7.26 (0.12) | 7.11 (0.15) | 0.16 (0.06–0.25)* | 0.16 (0.00–0.32) |
| Treatment for Constipation | 7.12 (0.21) | 7.16 (0.14) | − 0.03 (− 0.30–0.24) | − 0.07 (− 0.33–0.20) |
|
GIS based on an algorithm combining parent report and stool diary using the Bristol stool scale (GIS/PRSD) | ||||
| GI problems (any of the above) | 7.14 (1.58) | 6.94 (1.60) | 0.20 (− 0.26–0.65) | 0.22 (− 0.29–0.72) |
| Four or more stools per day | 6.80 (1.10) | 7.04 (1.60) | − 0.24 (− 1.33–0.84) | − 0.34 (− 1.29–0.6) |
| Constipation: 2 or more hard stools/week, < 3 stools/week and at least one is hard, use of laxative or stool softener | 7.11 (1.76) | 7.02 (1.54) | 0.10 (− 0.53–0.72) | 0.15 (− 0.45–0.76) |
| Loose stool or diarrhea | 7.44 (1.65) | 6.99 (1.58) | 0.45 (0.00–0.90) | 0.28 (− 0.04–0.60) |
| Vomiting | 7.28 (1.37) | 7.02 (1.61) | 0.26 (− 0.25–0.77) | 0.16 (− 0.49–0.81) |
| Abdominal pain: pain on stooling, pain relieved by stooling, pain during meals | 6.91 (1.54) | 7.06 (1.60) | − 0.16 (− 0.76–0.45) | 0.00 (− 0.43–0.42) |
| Gas | 7.12 (1.70) | 7.02 (1.58) | 0.10 (− 0.62–0.82) | 0.22 (− 0.52–0.96) |
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
Additional adjustment for maternal place of birth (GIS/PR only)