title: The changing prevalence of autism in three regions of Canada.
abstract: In 2002/2003, the National Epidemiologic Database for the Study of Autism in Canada started capturing information on children diagnosed with autism in different regions of the country. Based on data collected through 2008 in Newfoundland and Labrador and 2010 in Prince Edward Island and Southeastern Ontario, the estimated average annual percent increases in prevalence among children 2-14 years of age ranged from 9.7 % (95 % CI 7.8-11.6) to 14.6 % (95 % CI 11.3-18.0). Differential in-migration and identification of previously undetected cases may have contributed in part to the increases observed, but we cannot rule out the possibility of a true increase in incidence, particularly given the lack of a leveling-off of prevalence among the 6- to 9-year olds.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, Queen's University, Carruthers Hall, Kingston, ON, K7L 3N6, Canada, helene.kuntz@queensu.ca.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ouellette-Kuntz
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coo
authors.forename: Miu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lam
authors.forename: Marlene M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Breitenbach
authors.forename: Paula E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Hennessey
authors.forename: Paulette D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Jackman
authors.forename: M E Suzanne
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dewey
authors.forename: François P
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Bernier
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence