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High Burden of Constipation Among Autistic Youth: A Nationwide Query Powered by PCORnet
Bruno P Chumpitazi1,2, Allison Zelinski3, Nicole Marchesani3
1Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
The American Journal of Gastroenterology
|February 18, 2026
Summary
Approximately 22% of autistic children experience constipation, which is more than double the rate in non-autistic youth. This condition leads to increased abdominal pain and higher healthcare usage for autistic individuals.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Health
- Gastroenterology
- Neurodevelopmental Disorders
Background:
- Gastrointestinal (GI) problems are frequently observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).
- Current data on the prevalence of constipation and associated healthcare needs in autistic youth are limited.
- Understanding these issues is crucial for improving care for autistic children.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of constipation in children diagnosed with autism.
- To assess healthcare utilization patterns, including emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalizations, for constipation in autistic children.
- To compare these outcomes with non-autistic children.
Main Methods:
- Utilized electronic health records from over 20 million individuals aged 6-17 years across 70 health systems (2015-2024).
- Identified cohorts of autistic and non-autistic children, and diagnosed cases of constipation.
- Analyzed data on abdominal pain diagnoses, ED visits, and hospitalizations.
Main Results:
- Constipation was diagnosed in 22% of autistic children compared to 9% of non-autistic children.
- Autistic children with constipation reported higher rates of abdominal pain (34% vs. 8%).
- Autistic children with constipation had significantly more ED visits (26% vs. 3%) and hospitalizations for abdominal pain/constipation (16% vs. 1%) than those without constipation.
Conclusions:
- Nearly 1 in 5 autistic children are affected by constipation.
- Autistic children with constipation exhibit substantially higher unplanned healthcare utilization.
- These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions and improved management of constipation in the autistic population.
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