Age Differences in Emergency Department Visits and Inpatient Hospitalizations in Preadolescent and Adolescent Youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders.
This paper evaluated age differences in emergency department care and inpatient hospitalizations in 252 preadolescent and adolescent youth with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs; ages 9-18). Records from youth with ASDs were linked to acute care utilization records and were compared to a demographically similar comparison group of youth without ASDs (N = 1260). A particular focus was placed on utilization for psychiatric concerns and injuries or accidents. Results suggested that psychiatric care was more likely for youth with ASDs in both the preadolescent and adolescent cohorts versus comparison youth, with no significant differences between age cohorts. In contrast, results for the accident and injury categories suggested age-specific findings. Results suggest opportunities for prevention efforts for youth with ASDs.
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, Medical University of South Carolina, 135 Rutledge Avenue, MSC 567, Charleston, SC, 29403, USA, schlenz@musc.edu.
Alyssa M
AM
Schlenz
Laura A
LA
Carpenter
Catherine
C
Bradley
Jane
J
Charles
Andrea
A
Boan
D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002648:Child; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004637:Emergency Services, Psychiatric / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013022:South Carolina; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology