Medication Use in the Management of Comorbidities Among Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder From a Large...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Pharmacology
• Public Health

Background:

• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) lacks direct pharmacological treatment, necessitating management of symptoms and comorbidities through behavioral and pharmacological therapies.
• Understanding medication trends for co-occurring conditions in the growing ASD population is critical, yet previous research has been limited in scope and representation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze national trends in the prevalence of co-occurring conditions and medication use for symptom management in US individuals with ASD.
• To identify patterns in prescription frequency and associated comorbidities over a six-year period using a large-scale health claims database.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective, population-based cohort study utilizing a nationwide managed health plan claims database (over 86 million members).
• Analysis of prescription data and diagnoses for 26,722 individuals with ASD from January 1, 2014, to December 31, 2019.
• Focus on the 24 most commonly prescribed medications for ASD symptoms or comorbidities.

Main Results:

• Polypharmacy was common in individuals with ASD, with 28.6% to 31.5% using multiple medications.
• Prescription regimens frequently changed within medication classes, indicating transient treatment strategies.
• Fifteen of the 24 assessed medications were linked to at least 15% prevalence of mood disorders, and 11 were linked to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Conclusions:

• Significant variability and transience exist in the pharmacological management of ASD symptoms and comorbidities in the US.
• Findings underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of patients with ASD and co-occurring conditions.
• Results provide clinicians with insights into targeted therapies for common comorbidities, emphasizing the need for optimized clinical guidelines.