title: A comparison of autism prevalence trends in Denmark and Western Australia.
abstract: Prevalence statistics for autism spectrum disorders (ASD) vary widely across geographical boundaries. Some variation can be explained by diagnostic methods, case ascertainment and age at diagnosis. This study compared prevalence statistics for two distinct geographical regions, Denmark and Western Australia, both of which have had population-based registers and consistent classification systems operating over the past decade. Overall ASD prevalence rates were higher in Denmark (68.5 per 10,000 children) compared with Western Australia (51.0 per 10,000 children), while the diagnosis of childhood autism was more prevalent in Western Australia (39.3 per 10,000 children) compared with Denmark (21.8 per 10,000 children). These differences are probably caused by local phenomena affecting case ascertainment but influence from biological or geographical factors may exist.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, Department of Biostatistics, University of Aarhus, Aarhus, Denmark.
authors.forename: Erik T
authors.initials: ET
authors.lastname: Parner
authors.forename: Poul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thorsen
authors.forename: Glenys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Klerk
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Leonard
authors.forename: Natasha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nassar
authors.forename: Jenny
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bourke
authors.forename: Carol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bower
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Glasson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D020817:Asperger Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014904:Western Australia / Q000453:epidemiology