Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine was not associated with autism in children
QUESTION: Is the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine associated with autism in children?
Design
Population based cohort study with data obtained by database linkage.
Setting
Denmark.
Participants
537 303 children (51% boys).
Assessment of risk factors
MMR vaccination status was obtained from the Danish National Board of Health (compiled by general practitioner reports). Data on birth weight, sex, gestational age, family socioeconomic status, and mother’s education were also collected.
Main outcome measures
Children’s autism status was obtained from the Danish Psychiatric Central Register; diagnoses of autistic disorder or another autistic spectrum disorder were assigned by specialists in child psychiatry. If a child was diagnosed with both autistic disorder and ≥1 other autistic spectrum disorder, the diagnosis was classified as autistic disorder.
Main results
The 537 303 children had follow up for a total of 2 129 …
