Excess mortality and causes of death in autism spectrum disorders: a follow up of the 1980s Utah/UCLA autism epidemiologic study
- PMID:23008058
- PMCID: PMC4814267
- DOI: 10.1007/s10803-012-1664-z
Excess mortality and causes of death in autism spectrum disorders: a follow up of the 1980s Utah/UCLA autism epidemiologic study
Abstract
This study's purpose was to investigate mortality among individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) ascertained during a 1980s statewide autism prevalence study (n = 305) in relation to controls. Twenty-nine of these individuals (9.5 %) died by the time of follow up, representing a hazard rate ratio of 9.9 (95 % CI 5.7-17.2) in relation to population controls. Death certificates identified respiratory, cardiac, and epileptic events as the most common causes of death. The elevated mortality risk associated with ASD in the study cohort appeared related to the presence of comorbid medical conditions and intellectual disability rather than ASD itself suggesting the importance of coordinated medical care for this high risk sub-population of individuals with ASD.
References
- Baird PA, Sadovnick AD. Underlying causes of death in Down syndrome: Accuracy of British Columbia death certificate data. Canadian Journal of Public Health. 1990;81(6):456–461. - PubMed
- Bilder D, Pinborough-Zimmerman J, Miller J, McMahon W. Prenatal, perinatal, and neonatal factors associated with autism spectrum disorders. Pediatrics. 2009;123(5):1293–1300. - PubMed
- CIA World Factbook. Sweden death rate. 2011a Retrieved fromhttp://www.cia.gov.
- CIA World Factbook. United States death rate. 2011b Retrieved fromhttp://www.cia.gov.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders—Autism and developmental disabilities monitoring network, United States, 2006. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. 2009;58(10):1–20. - PubMed
Publication types
MeSH terms
Grants and funding
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources