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[Estimated prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in the Canary Islands]
M S Fortea Sevilla1, M O Escandell Bermúdez, J J Castro Sánchez
1Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, España.
Insights
This study estimates autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence in Las Palmas children, finding a 0.61% rate. Interestingly, the study observed a higher prevalence in girls than boys, contrary to prior research.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric neurology
- Developmental psychology
- Public health epidemiology
Context:
- Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) represent a significant public health concern.
- Accurate prevalence data is crucial for resource allocation and intervention planning.
- Previous ASD prevalence studies have varied, necessitating regional estimates.
Purpose:
- To determine the initial prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) in children aged 18–30 months in Las Palmas, Spain.
- To investigate the gender ratio of ASD diagnoses within this population.
Summary:
- A descriptive study screened 1,796 children (18–30 months) in Las Palmas using the M-CHAT/ES, with positive cases confirmed by ADIR and ADOS.
- The study identified a prevalence of 0.61% for ASDs.
- A gender ratio of six girls to five boys was observed, differing from previous findings.
Impact:
- This study provides essential baseline prevalence data for ASDs in the Las Palmas region.
- The observed gender ratio warrants further investigation with larger sample sizes.
- Findings can inform local health policies and early intervention strategies for ASDs.
Aims:
To make an initial estimate of the prevalence of autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) among children in the province of Las Palmas (Spain).
Material And Methods:
Descriptive study was conducted on 1,796 children between the ages of 18 and 30 months of age, all part of the Child Health Surveillance of the Canary Islands, more specifically the province of Las Palmas, with a population of 1,090,605. The parents of children involved completed the Spanish version of the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers (M-CHAT/ES) in the paediatric clinic. The positive cases were then diagnosed by experts by means of the Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised (ADIR) and the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS).
Results:
A 0.61% prevalence of ASDs was determined, similar to that reported in previous studies using the same tools. The ratio was six girls for every five boys. This was contrary to the results of previous studies which suggested more boys than girls were affected. This may have been due to the sample size, which will have to be increased in future studies to confirm this outcome.
Conclusions:
An increased sample size and also spread to other age ranges should be used in order to obtain a more reliable estimate of prevalence. As regards the gender ratio, this could be a result of the small size of the sample researched, and should therefore be confirmed by further studies.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
01:08Prevalence and Incidence
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health condition at a...
01:43Sex Linked Disorders
01:27Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)