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A Narrative Review of Cardiovascular Health in Autistic Individuals: Epidemiologic Evidence, Mechanistic Pathways,

Emily Hotez1, Lanxin Song1, Yixin Yang2

  • 1Department of General Internal Medicine-Health Services Research, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Los Angeles, CA USA.

Current Epidemiology Reports
|April 2, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Autistic individuals face higher cardiovascular risks due to complex factors. More research is crucial for developing effective health interventions for this population.

Area of Science:

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder
  • Cardiovascular Health
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Autistic individuals experience disproportionately poor cardiovascular health.
  • Cardiovascular disease is a significant concern for autistic individuals, affecting 1 in 31 in the U.S.
  • Existing research highlights elevated cardiovascular risk factors in this population.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize current evidence on cardiovascular health in autism.
  • To examine epidemiology, modifying factors, and mechanistic pathways.
  • To identify implications for future research and clinical practice.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of population-based cohorts.
  • Synthesis of existing evidence on cardiovascular health in autism.
  • Analysis of behavioral, biological, psychosocial, and environmental factors.

Main Results:

  • Autistic individuals exhibit elevated cardiovascular risk factors.
  • Interacting pathways including behavioral, biological, and psychosocial factors contribute to risk.
  • Individual and family characteristics modify these risks.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular health is an urgent priority for autistic individuals.
  • Improved research is needed to inform effective health interventions.
  • Future research should focus on comprehensive assessments and integrate multiple levels of analysis.
Abstract

Keywords:
AutismCardiometabolic healthCardiovascular diseaseHealth disparitiesLife courseStress

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