Disorder of Gut-Brain Interaction in Schoolchildren and Adolescents with Developmental Disabilities

• DOI: 10.20944/preprints202504.0161.v1
• Publication Date: 2025-04-03T03:34:20Z
• Authors: Carlos Alberto Ve...; Christian Andrés ...; Claudia Jimena Or...; Daniela Alejandra...; María Carolina Ju...; Cecilia Zubiri; Julián Fernández; Román Bigliardi; Anabella Zosi; Ricardo Chanis; Celina Guzmán; Fátima Azereth Re...; Roberto Zablah

Background: Disorders of Gut-Brain-Interaction (DGBIs) are present in 22%-23% according to Rome IV. Latin American (LA) prevalence of DGBIs in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is unknown. The aim was to determine the prevalence of DGBIs and possible associations in schoolchildren and adolescents with ASD, from LA. Methods: observational analytical study conducted in six LA cities. Caregivers of children with ASD completed Rome IV Questionnaire for Pediatric Gastrointestinal Symptom to identify DGBIs. Sociodemographic, clinical, and family variables were included. Statistical analysis involved central tendency measures, univariate and bivariate analysis, calculation odds ratios (OR), 95% confidence intervals (95%CI), with p<0.05 significant. Results: The study included 353 children with ASD. Predominantly male (78.8%), white (56.1%), attending private schools (85.4%), normal nutritional status according BMI (58.8%) and height-for-age (85.6%), born by c-section (57.5%), firstborn (54.7%), and level 1 autism (45.0%). A total of 58.9% presented some DGBI. Functional constipation (FC) was the most frequent (27.2%). Those from Central America (CA) had higher likelihood of presenting a DGBI (OR=1.98, 95% CI=1.25–3.12, p=0.0018). Conclusions: Over a half of LA schoolchildren and adolescents with ASD presented some DGBI, with FC being the most common, and higher likelihood of DGBI for those from CA.