title: Epidemiology of autism in adults across age groups and ability levels.
abstract: The epidemiology of autism in adults has relied on untested projections using childhood research.
  
  
  
  To derive representative estimates of the prevalence of autism and key associations in adults of all ages and ability levels.
  
  
  
  Comparable clinical diagnostic assessments of 7274 Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey participants combined with a population case-register survey of 290 adults with intellectual disability.
  
  
  
  The combined prevalence of autism in adults of all ages in England was 11/1000 (95% CI 3-19/1000). It was higher in those with moderate to profound intellectual disability (odds ratio (OR) = 63.5, 95% CI 27.4-147.2). Male gender was a strong predictor of autism only in those with no or mild intellectual disability (adjusted OR = 8.5, 95% CI 2.0-34.9; interaction with gender, P = 0.03).
  
  
  
  Few adults with autism have intellectual disability; however, autism is more prevalent in this population. Autism measures may miss more women with autism.
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK tsb@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Traolach S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Brugha
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Spiers
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bankart
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: Sally-Ann
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Cooper
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: McManus
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: Fiona J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.affiliation: Traolach S. Brugha, MD(NUI) FRCPsych, Nicola Spiers, MSc PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; John Bankart, MSc PhD, Department of Primary Care and Health Sciences, University of Keele, Stoke-on-Trent; Sally-Ann Cooper, MD FRCPsych, Institute of Health and Wellbeing, University of Glasgow, Gartnavel Royal Hospital, Glasgow; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen Social Research, London; Fiona J. Scott, PhD Cpsychol, Jane Smith, MSc, Freya Tyrer, MSc, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leciester, Leciester, UK.
authors.forename: Freya
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tyrer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001321:Autistic Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult