title: Brief report: diminishing geographic variability in autism spectrum disorders over time?
abstract: We investigated differences in the geographic distribution of autism spectrum disorders (ASD) over time in central North Carolina with data from the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network. Using generalized additive models and geographic information systems we produced maps of ASD risk in 2002–2004 and 2006–2008. Overall the risk of ASD increased 52.9 % from 2002–2004 to 2006–2008. However, the magnitude of change in risk was not uniform across the study area; while some areas experienced dramatic increases in ASD risk(>400 %), others experienced slight decreases. Generally,areas with the lowest risk in 2002–2004 experienced the greatest increases over time. Education and outreach efforts in North Carolina expanded during this period, possibly contributing to the observed leveling of risk over time.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Hoffman
authors: Veronica M
authors: VM
authors: Vieira
authors: Julie L
authors: JL
authors: Daniels
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002659:Child Development Disorders, Pervasive / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D015995:Prevalence
references: J Clin Psychiatry. 2005;66 Suppl 10:3-8
references: 16401144
references: MMWR Surveill Summ. 2012 Mar 30;61(3):1-19
references: 22456193
references: Am J Public Health. 2010 Mar;100(3):389-90; author reply 390
references: 20075308
references: Epidemiology. 2002 Jul;13(4):417-23
references: 12094096
references: Spat Spatiotemporal Epidemiol. 2011 Dec;2(4):291-300
references: 22748227
references: Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2007 Apr;161(4):334-40
references: 17404129
references: Annu Rev Public Health. 2007;28:235-58
references: 17367287
references: Autism Res. 2010 Feb;3(1):19-29
references: 20049980
references: Arch Dis Child. 2006 Jan;91(1):8-15
references: 15863467
references: PLoS One. 2010 Jul 12;5(7):e11551
references: 20634960
references: Health Place. 2010 May;16(3):539-46
references: 20097113
references: Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2002 Dec;11(6):249-56
references: 12541002
references: Environ Health. 2012 Oct 31;11:80
references: 23113973
references: Public Health Rep. 2004 Nov-Dec;119(6):536-51
references: 15504445
references: Pediatrics. 2011 Aug;128(2):344-55
references: 21746727
references: Int J Health Geogr. 2006 Jun 09;5:26
references: 16764727
references: Am J Epidemiol. 2008 Dec 1;168(11):1268-76
references: 18945690
references: Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. 2007 Mar;21(2):179-90
references: 17302648