Study Reveals Alarming Global Spread of Autism

2nd January 2025

1 minute read

Study Reveals Alarming Global Spread of Autism

A study published in The Lancet Psychiatry has highlighted a significant increase in the prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) globally, along with its impact on public health.

The findings indicate that ASD is one of the leading causes of non-fatal health burdens, emphasizing the need to develop comprehensive strategies to support those affected and improve their quality of life.

Damian Santomauro, PhD, from the University of Queensland in Archerfield, Australia, and his colleagues conducted a systematic review of research to estimate the global prevalence and health burden of ASD.

The team found that in 2021, an estimated 61.8 million people worldwide were affected by ASD, with a global age-standardized prevalence rate of 788.3 per 100,000 people, equating to 1064.7 for males and 508.1 for females per 100,000 people.

Globally, ASD accounted for 11.5 million Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), representing the total years of healthy life lost due to ASD-related disabilities or reduced quality of life. This corresponds to 147.6 adjusted years per 100,000 people.

Age-standardized rates ranged between 126.5 and 204.1 per 100,000 people in regions such as Southeast Asia, East Asia, Oceania, and high-income areas.

Throughout different life stages, the impact of Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) was most pronounced among children under five years old (169.2 adjusted years per 100,000 people), decreasing with age (163.4 and 137.7 adjusted years per 100,000 people for those under 20 years and over 20 years, respectively).

For individuals under the age of 20, ASD ranked among the top ten causes of non-fatal health burdens.