Global Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder Is High
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
FRIDAY, Dec. 27, 2024 -- The global prevalence and rank of nonfatal burden of autism spectrum disorder are high, according to a review published online Dec. 19 in The Lancet Psychiatry.
Damian Santomauro, Ph.D., from the University of Queensland in Archerfield, Australia, and colleagues conducted a systematic literature review to estimate the global prevalence and health burden of autism spectrum disorder.
The researchers found that in 2021, an estimated 61.8 million individuals were on the autism spectrum globally. The global age-standardized prevalence was 788.3 per 100,000 people, which was equivalent to 1,064.7 and 508.1 males and females with autism per 100,000 males and females, respectively. Globally, autism spectrum disorder accounted for 11.5 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), which was equivalent to 147.6 DALYs per 100,000 people. Age-standardized DALY rates varied from 126.5 to 204.1 per 100,000 people in Southeast Asia, East Asia, and Oceania and in the high-income super region, respectively. Across the lifespan, DALYs were evident, emerging for children younger than 5 years (169.2 DALYs per 100,000 people) and decreasing with age (163.4 and 137.7 DALYs per 100,00 people aged younger than 20 and aged 20 years or older, respectively). For people younger than 20 years, autism spectrum disorder was ranked within the top 10 causes of nonfatal health burden.
"We hope that this study provides a foundation for future research and policy interventions, so that key stakeholders work to ensure that the unique needs of all autistic people are met, contributing to a better, more inclusive, and more understanding future," the authors write.
Several authors disclosed ties to the pharmaceutical industry.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted December 2024
Read this next
Generative AI Model for Draft Radiological Reporting Improves Documentation Efficiency
THURSDAY, June 12, 2025 -- Clinical use of artificial intelligence (AI)-generated draft radiograph reports is associated with improved radiologist documentation efficiency while...
Mitochondrial Genetics Key to Metastatic Melanoma Immunotherapy Resistance
THURSDAY, June 12, 2025 -- For patients with metastatic melanoma, mitochondrial (MT) haplogroup T (HG-T) is associated with resistance to an anti-programmed cell death...
Talking Therapy Reduces Depression, Anxiety Symptoms in Stroke Survivors
THURSDAY, June 12, 2025 -- For stroke survivors, talking therapy is associated with moderate reductions in depression and large reductions in anxiety symptoms, according to a...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.