Valproate (All indications)

ASD (Autism spectrum disorder): Diagnosis/Risk

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
R48839
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Diagnosis of childhood autism (F84.0), atypical autism (F84.1), and Asperger syndrome (F84.5) (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 3.36 [2.47;4.58] C
excluded (control group)
82/2,421   82/7,950 164 2,421
ref
S12519
R48840
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed NOS) (Mixed indications), 2022 Diagnosis of childhood autism (F84.0), atypical autism (F84.1), and Asperger syndrome (F84.5) (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 3.44 [2.77;4.28]
excluded (control group)
82/2,421   38,437/4,463,879 38,519 2,421
ref
S12707
R48841
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Diagnosis of childhood autism (F84.0), atypical autism (F84.1), and Asperger syndrome (F84.5) (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 2.81 [2.18;3.61] C 82/2,421   267/21,634 349 2,421
ref
S9391
R46532
Coste (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2020 Diagnosis Pervasive developmental disorders (F84) (mean age of 3.7 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: Yes 4.70 [1.90;11.40]
excluded (control group)
17/991   7/2,108 24 991
ref
S9392
R46533
Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Diagnosis Pervasive developmental disorders (F84) (mean age of 3.6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort (claims database) unexposed (general population or NOS) Adjustment: Yes 4.60 [2.90;7.50] 17/991   4,280/1,710,441 4,297 991
ref
S9430
R46536
Wiggs (Valproate), 2020 Austism Spectrum Disorder (after 2 years of age) at least 1st trimester population based cohort retrospective unexposed, sick Adjustment: Yes 2.30 [1.53;3.47] -/-   -/11,298 - -
ref
S9404
R46535
Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019 Diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder throughout pregnancy prospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick Adjustment: No 2.74 [0.57;13.12] C 3/26   4/88 7 26
ref
S9981
R46538
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2018 Autistic traits at 18 months and/or at 36 months (M-CHAT <2/6 critical or <3/23 or SCQ >13) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort propective exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: No 0.61 [0.16;2.31] C
excluded (control group)
3/27   13/76 16 27
ref
S9982
R46539
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2018 Autistic traits at 18 months and/or at 36 months (M-CHAT <2/6 critical or <3/23 or SCQ >13) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort propective unexposed, disease free excluded Adjustment: No 1.24 [0.37;4.12] C
excluded (control group)
3/27   6,907/75,497 6,910 27
ref
S9983
R46540
Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018 Autistic traits at 18 months and/or at 36 months (M-CHAT <2/6 critical or <3/23 or SCQ >13) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) population based cohort propective unexposed, sick Adjustment: No 1.13 [0.32;4.02] C 3/27   27/272 30 27
ref
S9431
R46537
Wood (Valproate), 2015 Score >30 (CARS) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick Adjustment: No 1.04 [0.04;28.06] C 1/26   0/9 1 26
ref
S9377
R46527
Bromley (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2013 Autistic Spectrum Disorders (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort exposed to other treatment, sick excluded Adjustment: No 2.52 [0.27;23.69] C
excluded (control group)
4/50   1/30 5 50
ref
S9380
R46528
Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2013 Autistic Spectrum Disorders (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort unexposed, disease free excluded Adjustment: No 4.57 [1.10;18.93] C
excluded (control group)
4/50   4/214 8 50
ref
S9383
R46529
Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Autistic Spectrum Disorders (at 6 years old) during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) prospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No 5.04 [0.26;97.51] C 4/50   0/26 4 50
ref
S9278
R46526
Adab (Valproate), 2004 Asperger’s syndrome during pregnancy (anytime or not specified) retrospective cohort unexposed, sick Adjustment: No 4.90 [0.20;122.25] C 1/63   0/101 1 63
ref
Total 8 studies 2.86 [2.28;3.58] 4,689 3,604
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 2.81[2.18; 3.61]3492,42150%ROB confusion: unclearROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: unclearROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020Coste, 2020 2 4.60[2.90; 7.50]4,29799119%ROB confusion: NAROB selection: NAROB classification: NAROB missing: NAROB mesure: NAROB reporting: NA Wiggs (Valproate), 2020Wiggs, 2020 3 2.30[1.53; 3.47]--24%ROB confusion: seriousROB selection: lowROB classification: lowROB missing: moderateROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019Huber-Mollema, 2019 4 2.74[0.57; 13.12]7262%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: criticalROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018Bjørk, 2018 5 1.13[0.32; 4.02]30273%ROB confusion: unclearROB selection: lowROB classification: lowROB missing: lowROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Wood (Valproate), 2015Wood, 2015 6 1.04[0.04; 28.06]1260%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: moderateROB missing: criticalROB mesure: lowROB reporting: moderate Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013Bromley, 2013 7 5.04[0.26; 97.51]4501%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: lowROB classification: lowROB missing: moderateROB mesure: moderateROB reporting: moderate Adab (Valproate), 2004Adab, 2004 8 4.90[0.20; 122.25]1630%ROB confusion: criticalROB selection: criticalROB classification: lowROB missing: criticalROB mesure: lowROB reporting: moderate Total (8 studies) I2 = 8% 2.86[2.28; 3.58]4,6893,6040.520.01.0ROB: 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; 7: Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick; 8: Valproate;

Sensitivity analysis

SubsetTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2 Type of studies cohort studiescohort studies 2.86[2.28; 3.58]4,6893,6048%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Wiggs (Valproate), 2020 Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018 Wood (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Adab (Valproate), 2004 8 case control studiescase control studies 0 Type of controls unexposed (disease free or unspecified)unexposed (disease free or unspecified) 4.60[2.86; 7.40]4,297991 -NACoste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 1 unexposed, sickunexposed, sick 2.61[2.12; 3.22]3842,5610%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Wiggs (Valproate), 2020 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Adab (Valproate), 2004 5 exposed to other treatment, sickexposed to other treatment, sick 2.29[0.56; 9.43]8520%NAHuber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019 Wood (Valproate), 2015 2 Tags Adjustment   - No  - No 2.72[2.14; 3.46]3922,6130%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018 Wood (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Adab (Valproate), 2004 6   - Yes  - Yes 3.22[1.63; 6.34]4,29799179%NACoste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Wiggs (Valproate), 2020 2 Controls   - epilepsy indication  - epilepsy indication 2.81[2.18; 3.61]3492,421 -NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 1 All studiesAll studies 2.86[2.28; 3.58]4,6893,6048%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Wiggs (Valproate), 2020 Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018 Wood (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Adab (Valproate), 2004 80.520.01.0

Publication bias and p-hacking diagnosis

funnel plot
0.0-4.05.02.0170.000Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020Wiggs (Valproate), 2020Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018Wood (Valproate), 2015Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013Adab (Valproate), 2004

Asymetry test p-value = 0.8026 (by Egger's regression)

slope=1.0790 (0.1604); intercept=-0.1526 (0.5838); t=0.2613; p=0.8026

p values plot
0.01.00.01.0

Sub-groups analysis using all included studies

excluded 9377, 9380, 9981, 9982, 9391, 12708, 12519

Sub-groupsTE95% CIn casesn exposedkI2ROB type of controls unexposed controls (disease free or unspecified)unexposed controls (disease free or unspecified) 3.55[2.55; 4.93]49,7343,48930%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed NOS) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, NOS), 2020 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2018 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, disease free), 2013 4 unexposed, sick controlsunexposed, sick controls 2.61[2.12; 3.22]3842,5610%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Wiggs (Valproate), 2020 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2018 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls unexposed, sick), 2013 Adab (Valproate), 2004 5 exposed to other treatment, sick controlsexposed to other treatment, sick controls 2.73[1.59; 4.69]2173,54131%NABjørk (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick) (Mixed indications), 2022 Coste (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2020 Huber-Mollema (Valproate), 2019 Bjørk (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2018 Wood (Valproate), 2015 Bromley (Valproate) (Controls exposed to Lamotrigine, sick), 2013 60.510.01.0