TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 Morbidity Among Individuals with Autistic Spectrum Disorder
T2 - A Matched Controlled Population-Based Study
AU - Krieger, Israel
AU - Erez, Galit
AU - Weinstein, Orly
AU - Cohen, Arnon Dov
AU - Tzur Bitan, Dana
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
PY - 2023/2
Y1 - 2023/2
N2 - In this study we aimed to assess whether individuals with ASD are prone to higher infection rates, or to severe COVID-19 illness. Individuals with ASD and age- and gender-matched controlled counterparts (total n = 32,812) were assessed for COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations. Results indicated higher infection rates among individuals with ASD, with the largest effect among individuals aged 40–60 (OR = 2.05, 95%CI 1.33–3.15, p <.001), as well as higher odds for hospitalizations, evident primarily in men (OR = 2.40, 95%CI 1.14–5.02, p = 0.02) but not women. Medical and environmental risk factors may associate ASD with higher infection and morbidity rates. Healthcare policy providers should consider proactive steps to protect this population from the associated risks.
AB - In this study we aimed to assess whether individuals with ASD are prone to higher infection rates, or to severe COVID-19 illness. Individuals with ASD and age- and gender-matched controlled counterparts (total n = 32,812) were assessed for COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalizations. Results indicated higher infection rates among individuals with ASD, with the largest effect among individuals aged 40–60 (OR = 2.05, 95%CI 1.33–3.15, p <.001), as well as higher odds for hospitalizations, evident primarily in men (OR = 2.40, 95%CI 1.14–5.02, p = 0.02) but not women. Medical and environmental risk factors may associate ASD with higher infection and morbidity rates. Healthcare policy providers should consider proactive steps to protect this population from the associated risks.
KW - ASD
KW - Autism Spectrum Disorder
KW - COVID-19
KW - Infection
KW - Morbidity
KW - Population-based
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85109683211&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10803-021-05187-2
DO - 10.1007/s10803-021-05187-2
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AN - SCOPUS:85109683211
SN - 0162-3257
VL - 53
SP - 789
EP - 794
JO - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
JF - Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
IS - 2
ER -