Co-occurring hydrocephalus in autism spectrum disorder: a Danish population-based cohort study

Abstract Background The association between autism spectrum disorder and hydrocephalus is not well understood, despite demonstrated links cerebrospinal fluid abnormalities. Based on the hypothesis that may, at least in some cases, be two manifestations of a shared congenital brain pathology, we investigated potential large Danish population-based cohort. Methods Patients controls were obtained from Lundbeck Foundation Initiative for Integrative Psychiatric Research iPSYCH2012 case-cohort, which includes all patients with selected psychiatric disorders born Denmark 1981–2005 along randomly population (end follow-up, December 31, 2016). associations individual estimated using binary logistic regression adjustment age sex. Results cohort consisted 86,571 individuals, 14,654 diagnosed disorder, 28,606 controls, remaining other disorders. We identified 201 cases; 68 among 40 (OR 3.77, 95% CI 2.48–5.78), corresponds to an absolute risk 0.46 % (i.e. approximately one 217 children had co-occurring hydrocephalus). disorder-hydrocephalus was significant over entire subgroup disorder. Conclusions Given considerable suggest should evaluated routine basis as timely neurosurgical intervention important. Likewise, attention must paid traits hydrocephalus. results this study call future investigations aetiology including role abnormal CSF dynamics pathogenesis