Autism Is The Leading Health Concern Among Global Youth

As per a recent Lancet study published in the Lancet Psychiatry, says that nearly 62 million people in 2021 had autism spectrum disorder. The study also revealed that autism ranks among the top ten health problems for youth people under 20.

Damian Santomauro, an affiliate assistant professor with the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, and who led the research team said: "We estimated one in 127 individuals worldwide in 2021 was autistic, placing the autism spectrum within the top ten causes for non-fatal health burden for children and adolescents younger than 20 years."

“Addressing not only the needs of autistic children and adolescents, but also those of adults, who often remain under-represented in research and service provision, is imperative," he said. This is because kids on the spectrum can find holidays like Christmas and New Year's particularly challenging.

How was the study conducted?

For the study, researchers combined data from 105 studies on autism rates across 33 countries. The research found that autism rates had increased dramatically. 1 in 127 people in 2021, compared with 1 in 271 in 2019, but said that this increase is mainly attributed to changes in the way autism is detected estimated.

The rate is also much higher than the current Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) estimates, which is 1 in every 36 children.

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“This higher prevalence was derived from a review of case notes from clinical and educational records to establish whether individuals likely met diagnostic criteria for probable autism spectrum disorder,” the paper says. “Because individuals were not clinically evaluated for autism spectrum disorder (as is done in population diagnostic surveys), this method can overestimate the prevalence of autism spectrum disorder.”

The autism rate among males is double that of females, found the study. 1,065 cases per 100,000 males was found, as compared to 508 per 100,000 females. This is, however, less than the current CDC estimates, which hold that autism is nearly 4 times more common among boys than girls.

“Addressing the global health burden of autism spectrum disorder requires prioritizing resources for early detection programs, including improved diagnostic tools–particularly for adults and those in low and middle-income countries with limited access to care, caregiver support, and services tailored to the evolving needs of autistic individuals across their lifespan,” researchers concluded in a University of Washington news release.

What is Autism?

As per the National Health Service (NHS) UK, autism is not an illness or a medical condition with treatments or a "cure". It is a spectrum, which means "everybody with autism is different". It is a developmental condition that affects how people communicate, learn, behave, and interact with others.

People with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may have difficulty with social interaction, could have atypical behavior and activities, or find it hard to communicate.