title: A description of medical conditions in adults with autism spectrum disorder: A follow-up of the 1980s Utah/UCLA Autism Epidemiologic Study.
abstract: This study describes medical conditions experienced by a population-based cohort of adults with autism spectrum disorder whose significant developmental concerns were apparent during childhood. As part of a 25-year outcome study of autism spectrum disorder in adulthood, medical histories were collected on 92 participants (N = 69 males) who were first ascertained as children in the mid-1980s, 11 of whom were deceased at the time of follow-up. Questionnaires queried medical symptoms, disorders, hospitalizations, surgeries, and medication use. Median age at follow-up was 36 years (range: 23.5-50.5 years), and intellectual disability co-occurred in 62%. The most common medical conditions were seizures, obesity, insomnia, and constipation. The median number of medical conditions per person was 11. Increased medical comorbidity was associated with female gender (p = 0.01) and obesity (p = 0.03), but not intellectual disability (p = 0.79). Adults in this cohort of autism spectrum disorder first ascertained in the 1980s experience a high number of chronic medical conditions, regardless of intellectual ability. Understanding of these conditions commonly experienced should direct community-based and medical primary care for this population.
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, USA kyle.jones@hsc.utah.edu.
authors.forename: Kyle B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cottle
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Amanda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bakian
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin, USA.
authors.forename: Megan
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bilder
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Coon
authors.affiliation: University of Utah School of Medicine, USA.
authors.forename: William M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: McMahon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D002140:California / Q000453:epidemiology; D002908:Chronic Disease / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055553:Prescription Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012737:Sex Factors; D013514:Surgical Procedures, Operative / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014589:Utah / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D055553:Prescription Drugs
keywords: autism spectrum disorder; medical comorbidity