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Feeding disorders associated with EoE among children with autism
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Pediatric patients with autism spectrum disorders are more likely to develop eosinophilic esophagitis if they have a feeding disorder, according to data presented at the North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Annual Meeting.
Because the rate of EoE among autistic children with feeding disorders is unknown, researchers performed a retrospective matched case-cohort study using the military health system database from October 2008 to September 2013. They identified 45,286 children with autism spectrum disorders and 226,430 matched controls, 7.9% and 1.1% of whom had feeding disorders, respectively. Then, using conditional logistic regression, they compared EoE risk between patients with and without autism spectrum disorders or feeding disorders, and also sought to risk-stratify the need for endoscopic evaluation of EoE in children with autism spectrum disorders.
They found EoE was present in 0.4% of children with autism spectrum disorders compared with 0.1% of controls, corresponding to ORs of 24.19 (95% CI, 8.13-71.96) for patients with autism spectrum disorders plus feeding disorders, 2.69 (95% CI, 1.75-4.14) for patients with autism spectrum disorders without feeding disorders and 21.88 (95% CI, 5.45-87.9) for patients with feeding disorders without autism spectrum disorders.
The rate of EoE among children with autism spectrum disorders plus feeding disorders was comparable to controls with feeding disorders. Patients with feeding disorders also had higher ORs than other atopic conditions among children with autism spectrum disorders (7.17; 95% CI, 4.87-10.5) and controls (11.5; 95% CI, 7.57-17.5).
The researchers concluded that children with autism spectrum disorders have a higher risk for EoE compared with controls, but there was no difference in risk for EoE among individuals from either group who had feeding disorders, and a diagnosis of feeding disorder was significantly associated with EoE. “Feeding disorders in children with [autism spectrum disorders] should not be assumed to be solely behavioral and an esophagogastroduodenoscopy should be performed to evaluate for EoE,” they wrote. – by Adam Leitenberger
Reference:
Heifort T, et al. Abstract 218. Presented at: North American Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Annual Meeting; Oct. 8-11, 2015; Washington, D.C.
Disclosures: Healio Gastroenterology was unable to confirm relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.