title: Brief report: Emergency department utilization by individuals with autism.
abstract: To identify medical problems most commonly presenting to emergency departments among individuals with autism as compared to non-autistic persons across age groups. Data was obtained from the 2010 National Emergency Department database and was analyzed by age categories: 3-5, 6-11, 12-15, 16-18 and 19 years and older. Epilepsy emerged as the leading presenting diagnosis among those with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ages 16-19 years and 19 over. Psychiatric conditions were primary among ASD individuals aged 12-15 years, accounting for more than 11% of all visits. In this sample, age-related differences were noted in medical diagnoses among autistic individuals as compared to non-autistic persons.
authors.affiliation: Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, 330 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA, 01742, USA, dorothea_iannuzzi@vmed.org.
authors.forename: Dorothea A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Iannuzzi
authors.forename: Erika R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Sarabeth
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Broder-Fingert
authors.forename: Margaret L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bauman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data* / Q000639:trends; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult