Brief Report: Estimated Prevalence of a Community Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder by Age 4 Years in Children from Selected Areas in the United States in 2010: Evaluation of Birth Cohort Effects

Gnakub N Soke; M J Maenner; D Christensen; M Kurzius-Spencer; L A Schieve

doi:10.1007/s10803-017-3094-4

Brief Report: Estimated Prevalence of a Community Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder by Age 4 Years in Children from Selected Areas in the United States in 2010: Evaluation of Birth Cohort Effects

J Autism Dev Disord. 2017 Jun;47(6):1917-1922. doi: 10.1007/s10803-017-3094-4.

Authors

Gnakub N Soke^{1

2}, M J Maenner³, D Christensen³, M Kurzius-Spencer⁴, L A Schieve³

Affiliations

¹ Epidemic Intelligence Service, Division of Scientific Education and Professional Development, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA. yxo2@cdc.gov.
² National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Congenital and Developmental Disorders, Developmental Disabilities Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS E-86, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA. yxo2@cdc.gov.
³ National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Division of Congenital and Developmental Disorders, Developmental Disabilities Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy, MS E-86, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA.
⁴ Department of Pediatrics, Genetics and Developmental Pediatrics, University of Arizona College of Medicine, Tucson, AZ, USA.

Abstract

We compared early-diagnosed autism spectrum disorder (ASD) (defined as diagnosis by age 4 years) between the 2002 and 2006 birth cohorts, in five sites of the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. In the 2002 cohort, the prevalence/1000 of early-diagnosed ASD was half the 8-year-old prevalence (7.2 vs. 14.7, prevalence ratio [PR] 0.5 [0.4-0.6]). Overall, the prevalence of early-diagnosed ASD did not differ between birth cohorts (PR 1.1 [0.9-1.3]). However, in three sites with complete case ascertainment, the prevalence of early-diagnosed ASD was higher for those born in 2006 versus 2002 (PR 1.3 [1.1-1.5]), suggesting possible improvement in early identification. The lack of change in two sites may reflect less complete case ascertainment. Studies in more recent cohorts are needed.

Keywords: Autism; Autism spectrum disorder; Birth cohort effects; Community diagnosis; Prevalence.

MeSH terms

Autism Spectrum Disorder / diagnosis
Autism Spectrum Disorder / epidemiology*
Child
Child, Preschool
Cohort Effect
Early Diagnosis
Female
Humans
Male
Prevalence
United States

Grants and funding

CC999999/Intramural CDC HHS/United States