Autism Diagnosis Among US Children and Adults, 2011-2022

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Understanding autism spectrum disorder (ASD) prevalence is crucial for effective healthcare delivery to a growing autistic population.
• Trends in ASD diagnoses across the lifespan require updated analysis to inform service planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze trends in ASD diagnosis rates using electronic health records from a large US health system network.
• To identify demographic and temporal patterns in ASD diagnoses between 2011 and 2022.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study utilizing de-identified electronic health records from 12 diverse US health systems.
• Annual ASD diagnosis rates were calculated from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2022, based on ICD-9 and ICD-10 codes.
• Inclusion criteria required patients to be enrolled in a participating health system for at least 10 months annually.

Main Results:

• The overall ASD diagnosis rate increased by 175%, from 2.3 to 6.3 per 1000 individuals between 2011 and 2022.
• The most significant relative increase was observed in 26-to-34-year-olds (450%), with higher increases in females compared to males across age groups.
• Relative increases in ASD diagnosis rates were greater in some racial and ethnic minority children compared to White children.

Conclusions:

• ASD diagnosis rates have substantially increased in the US from 2011-2022, particularly among young adults and females.
• These findings underscore the need for adaptive healthcare resource allocation to address the evolving needs of the autistic population.
• Health system data provides valuable insights into diagnostic trends, informing public health strategies and service provision.