To evaluate autism screening and diagnosis in children with congenital heart disease (CHD) who underwent cardiac surgery.
Approach:
Study Design: Prospective study involving 94 children who underwent cardiac surgery, using the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers, Revised with Follow-Up (M-CHAT-R/F) for screening.
Outcome Measurement: Autism diagnosis confirmed through chart review.
Key Findings:
14.6% of children screened positive for autism, while 11.7% received a diagnosis, based on a small sample size.
These rates exceed the general population estimate of 2% by more than threefold.
Screening was completed in only 48 out of 94 eligible children, with only six confirmed autism cases.
Interpretation:
The study highlights challenges in diagnosing autism in children with CHD, particularly due to the small sample size and potential biases in screening and diagnosis.
Limitations:
Low screening completion rate (48 out of 94 eligible children).
Sensitivity estimates are based on a small number of cases.
Potential verification bias due to non-standardized referral processes.
Conclusion:
The findings indicate a higher prevalence of autism in children with CHD compared to the general population, but caution is warranted in interpreting these results due to methodological limitations.
