Is intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen associated with emotional and hyperactivity problems during childhood? Findings from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort

Author(s):Show less -

Tovo-Rodrigues, Luciana ^[1] ; Schneider, Bruna Celestino ^[1] ; Martins-Silva, Thais ^[1] ; Del-Ponte, Bianca ^[1] ; de Mola, Christian Loret ^[2] ; Schuler-Faccini, Lavinia ^[3] ; Luiz Vianna, Fernanda Sales ^{[4, 5, 6]} ; Munhoz, Tiago N. ^{[1, 7]} ; Entiauspe, Ludmila ^[1] ; Silveira, Mariangela Freitas ^[1] ; Santos, Ina S. ^[1] ; Matijasevich, Alicia ^[8] ; Barros, Aluisio J. D. ^[1] ; Rohde, Luis Augusto ^{[9, 10]} ; Bertoldi, Andrea Damaso ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Pelotas, Postgrad Program Epidemiol, Rua Marechal Deodoro 1160, 3 Andar, BR-96020220 Pelotas, RS - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Pelotas, Sch Nursing & Publ Hlth, Pelotas - Brazil

^[3] Hosp Clin Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[4] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Postgrad Program Genet & Mol Biol, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[5] Hosp Clin Porto Alegre, Genom Med Lab, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[6] Hosp Clin Porto Alegre, Lab Res Bioeth & Eth Res, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[7] Univ Fed Pelotas, Sch Med, Dept Psychol, Pelotas - Brazil

^[8] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med FMUSP, Dept Med Prevent, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[9] Univ Fed Rio Grande do Sul, Dept Psychiat, Hosp Clin Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS - Brazil

^[10] Natl Inst Dev Psychiat Children & Adolescents, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC Psychiatry; v. 18, NOV 20 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

BackgroundLongitudinal studies have consistently reported that prenatal exposure to acetaminophen can to lead to an increased risk of attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder during childhood. This study aimed to investigate the association between intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen and the presence of emotional and behavioral problems at the ages of 6 and 11years in a low-middle income country.MethodsWe performed a prospective longitudinal population-based study using data from the 2004 Pelotas birth cohort. From the 4231 initial cohort participants, 3722 and 3566 children were assessed at 6 and 11years of age, respectively. The outcomes were assessed using the parent version of Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The cut-off points established for the Brazilian population were used to categorize the outcomes. Crude and adjusted odds ratio were obtained through logistic regression.ResultsAcetaminophen was used by 27.5% (95% confidence interval {[}CI]: 26.1-28.9) of the mothers at least once during pregnancy. The prevalence of emotional problems at 6 and 11years was 13.6 and 19.9%, respectively. For hyperactivity problems, prevalence was 13.9 and 16.1%, respectively. Intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen increased the odds of having emotional (odds ratio {[}OR]=1.47; 95% CI: 1.07-2.02) and hyperactivity/inattention (OR=1.42; 95% CI: 1.06-1.92) problems in 6-year-old boys. At the age of 11, a small decrease in the effect was observed for both outcomes after adjustment: OR=1.31 (95% CI: 0.99-1.73) for emotional problems and OR=1.25 (95% CI: 0.95-1.65) for hyperactivity/inattention in boys. No association for any phenotypes at both ages was observed for girls.ConclusionThe effect of intrauterine exposure to acetaminophen in emotional and hyperactivity symptoms was dependent on sex in a Brazilian cohort. While it seemed to be important for boys, mainly at 6years of age, for girls, no association was observed. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/13864-6 - Mental disorders, substance use and executive functions in early adolescence in a birth cohort
• Grantee: Alicia Matijasevich Manitto
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants