Valproate (All indications)

Neuro-developmental disorders (as a whole)

R analysis
id Study   Lib. in paper Exposition period    Study type  Control type 
 
Tags OR 95%CI x1/n1 x0/n0 no cases no exposed ROB Ref.
S12708
R47949
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ND): any diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (F84.0, F84.1, F84.5) or intellectual disability (F70, F71, F72, F73) plus F84.3, F84.4, F84.8, F84.9, F79 (between 6.1 and 7.9 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort retrospective exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: No 5.01 [3.99;6.28] C
excluded (control group)
190/2,421   133/7,950 323 2,421
ref
S12519
R47943
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed NOS) (Mixed indications), 2022 Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ND): any diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (F84.0, F84.1, F84.5) or intellectual disability (F70, F71, F72, F73) plus F84.3, F84.4, F84.8, F84.9, F79 (between 6.1 and 7.9 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort retrospective unexposed (general population or NOS) excluded Adjustment: Yes 3.87 [3.36;4.47]
excluded (control group)
190/2,421   68,295/4,463,879 68,485 2,421
ref
S12707
R47946
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Neurodevelopmental Disorder (ND): any diagnoses of autism spectrum disorder (F84.0, F84.1, F84.5) or intellectual disability (F70, F71, F72, F73) plus F84.3, F84.4, F84.8, F84.9, F79 (between 6.1 and 7.9 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort retrospective unexposed, sick Adjustment: No Controls: epilepsy indication 4.07 [3.42;4.86] C 190/2,421   443/21,634 633 2,421
ref
S9392
R32899
Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Diagnosis Disorders of psychological development (F80–F89) (mean age of 3.6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed (general population or NOS) Adjustment: Yes 4.70 [3.50;6.40] 41/991   10,010/1,710,441 10,051 991
ref
S9384
R32845
Charlton (Valproate), 2017 Neurodevelopmental disorders (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed, disease free Adjustment: Yes Matched 2.02 [0.52;7.86] -/118   58/6,048 49 118
ref
S9282
R32200
Arkilo (Valproate), 2015 Abnormal development (At 2 years of age, assessed by developmental specialists) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick Adjustment: No 11.00 [0.48;250.88] C 1/2   2/24 3 2
ref
S9377
R32810
Bromley (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2013 Neurodevelopmental disorder (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: No 1.91 [0.36;10.13] C
excluded (control group)
6/50   2/30 8 50
ref
S9380
R32826
Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2013 Neurodevelopmental disorder (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort unexposed, disease free excluded Adjustment: Yes 6.05 [1.65;24.53]
excluded (control group)
6/50   4/214 10 50
ref
S9383
R32842
Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Neurodevelopmental disorder (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No 7.62 [0.41;140.98] C 6/50   0/26 6 50
ref
S9450
R33195
Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick) (Mixed indications), 2013 Children: special education (mean age 4-5 years old) at least 1st trimester prospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: No Controls: epilepsy indication 2.93 [0.25;33.87] C
excluded (control group)
2/30   1/42 3 30
ref
S9451
R33230
Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013 Children: special education (mean age 4-5 years old) at least 1st trimester prospective cohort unexposed (general population or NOS) Adjustment: No 3.64 [0.32;41.98] C 2/30   1/52 3 30
ref
S9339
R32585
Dean (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2007 Neurodevelopmental disorder (mean age in years: m1=2.75 and m0=1.5) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: No 2.38 [0.12;48.80] C
excluded (control group)
15/61   0/4 15 61
ref
S9340
R32587
Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007 Neurodevelopmental disorder (mean age in years: m1=2.75 and m0=15.25) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No 4.67 [1.26;17.28] C 15/61   3/46 18 61
ref
S9428
R33109
Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 Need for educational support throughout pregnancy prospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No Matched 8.80 [1.35;57.43] C 8/13   2/13 10 13
ref
S9278
R32178
Adab (Valproate), 2004 Any additional educational needs during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No 1.95 [0.95;3.97] 24/50   28/87 52 50
ref
S9311
R32440
Katz (Valproate), 2001 Developmental delay (Based on the DSM-IV-TR criteria) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick Adjustment: No 3.00 [0.08;115.35] C 1/4   0/3 1 4
ref
Total 10 studies 4.09 [3.54;4.73] 10,826 3,740
x1: number of endpoints among exposed, n1: number of exposed; x0: number of endpoints among non exposed, n0: number of non exposed; C: calculated odds ratio from numbers of events and effectives

Forest plot

StudyTE95% CIn casesn exposedweightROBABCDEF Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022Bjørk, 2022 1 4.07[3.42; 4.86]6332,42169%ROB confusion: unclearROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: unclearROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020Coste, 2020 2 4.70[3.50; 6.40]10,05199123%ROB confusion: NAROB selection: NAROB classification: NAROB missing: NAROB mesure: NAROB reporting: NA Charlton (Valproate), 2017Charlton, 2017 3 2.02[0.52; 7.86]491181%ROB confusion: seriousROB selection: lowROB classification: criticalROB missing: lowROB mesure: criticalROB reporting: moderate Arkilo (Valproate), 2015Arkilo, 2015 4 11.00[0.48; 250.88]320%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: criticalROB classification: criticalROB missing: unclearROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013Bromley, 2013 5 7.62[0.41; 140.98]6500%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: lowROB missing: moderateROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013Rihtman, 2013 6 3.64[0.32; 41.98]3300%ROB confusion: NAROB selection: NAROB classification: NAROB missing: NAROB mesure: NAROB reporting: NA Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007Dean, 2007 7 4.67[1.26; 17.28]18611%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: criticalROB classification: lowROB missing: criticalROB mesure: criticalROB reporting: moderate Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006Viinikainen, 2006 8 8.80[1.35; 57.43]10131%ROB confusion: seriousROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: moderateROB mesure: lowROB reporting: moderate Adab (Valproate), 2004Adab, 2004 9 1.95[0.95; 3.97]52504%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: criticalROB classification: lowROB missing: criticalROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Katz (Valproate), 2001Katz, 2001 10 3.00[0.08; 115.35]140%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: criticalROB classification: lowROB missing: lowROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Total (10 studies) I2 = 0% 4.09[3.54; 4.73]10,8263,7400.550.01.0ROB: A: confusion, B: selection, C: classification, D: missing, E: measurement, F: reportinglow,moderate,serious,critical,unclear,

1: Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications; 2: Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS; 3: Valproate; 4: Valproate; 5: Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick; 6: Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications; 7: Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick; 8: Valproate) ; 9: Valproate; 10: Valproate;

Sensitivity analysis

SubsetTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2 Type of studies cohort studiescohort studies 4.09[3.54; 4.73]10,8263,7400%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Charlton (Valproate), 2017 Arkilo (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013 Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007 Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 Adab (Valproate), 2004 Katz (Valproate), 2001 10 case control studiescase control studies 0 Type of controls unexposed (disease free or unspecified)unexposed (disease free or unspecified) 4.50[3.36; 6.03]10,1031,1390%NACoste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Charlton (Valproate), 2017 Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013 3 unexposed, sickunexposed, sick 3.71[2.60; 5.28]7192,59517%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007 Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 Adab (Valproate), 2004 5 exposed to other treatment, sickexposed to other treatment, sick 6.35[0.59; 68.19]460%NAArkilo (Valproate), 2015 Katz (Valproate), 2001 2 Tags Adjustment   - No  - No 3.96[3.35; 4.68]7262,6310%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Arkilo (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013 Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007 Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 Adab (Valproate), 2004 Katz (Valproate), 2001 8   - Yes  - Yes 4.04[2.14; 7.63]10,1001,10929%NACoste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Charlton (Valproate), 2017 2 Controls   - epilepsy indication  - epilepsy indication 4.07[3.42; 4.86]6332,421 -NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 1 MatchedMatched 3.64[0.89; 14.93]5913136%NACharlton (Valproate), 2017 Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 2 All studiesAll studies 4.09[3.54; 4.73]10,8263,7400%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Charlton (Valproate), 2017 Arkilo (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013 Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007 Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 Adab (Valproate), 2004 Katz (Valproate), 2001 100.550.01.0

Publication bias and p-hacking diagnosis

funnel plot
0.0-4.45.82.2340.000Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020Charlton (Valproate), 2017Arkilo (Valproate), 2015Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006Adab (Valproate), 2004Katz (Valproate), 2001

Asymetry test p-value = 0.8653 (by Egger's regression)

slope=1.4185 (0.0912); intercept=-0.0681 (0.3887); t=0.1752; p=0.8653

p values plot
0.01.00.01.0

Sub-groups analysis using all included studies

excluded 9339, 9377, 9380, 9450, 12708, 12519

Sub-groupsTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2ROB type of controls unexposed controls (disease free or unspecified)unexposed controls (disease free or unspecified) 4.00[3.52; 4.54]78,5983,6100%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed NOS) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Charlton (Valproate), 2017 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2013 Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS) (Mixed indications), 2013 5 unexposed, sick controlsunexposed, sick controls 3.71[2.60; 5.28]7192,59517%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Dean (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2007 Viinikainen (Valproate) b, 2006 Adab (Valproate), 2004 5 exposed to other treatment, sick controlsexposed to other treatment, sick controls 4.89[3.92; 6.10]3532,5680%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Arkilo (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2013 Rihtman (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick) (Mixed indications), 2013 Dean (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2007 Katz (Valproate), 2001 60.510.01.0