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Premature mortality in a population‐based cohort of autistic adults in Canada

Lunsky, Yona; Lai, Meng‐Chuan; Balogh, Robert; Chung, Hannah; Durbin, Anna; Jachyra, Patrick; Tint, Ami; Weiss, Jonathan; Lin, Elizabeth

Authors

Yona Lunsky

Meng‐Chuan Lai

Robert Balogh

Hannah Chung

Anna Durbin

Ami Tint

Jonathan Weiss

Elizabeth Lin



Abstract

Research from different countries suggests that autistic adults are more likely to die prematurely than non-autistic adults, but these studies do not always investigate male and female individuals separately and do not consider whether this pattern is unique to autistic people or is also an issue for people with other developmental disabilities. We examined premature mortality in autistic males and females (assigned at birth) in a population-based cohort, compared to males and females with and without other developmental disabilities. Using linked administrative health and social services population data from Ontario, Canada, age-matched males and females aged 19–65 years were followed between 2010 and 2016, and causes of death were determined. Over the 6-year observation period, 330 of 42,607 persons (0.77%) in the group without developmental disabilities had died compared to 259 of 10,646 persons (2.43%) in the autism group and 419 of 10,615 persons (3.95%) in the other developmental disabilities group. Autistic males and females were more likely to die than non-autistic males (adjusted risk ratio, RR 3.13, 95%CI 2.58–3.79) and non-autistic females (adjusted RR 3.12, 95%CI 2.35–4.13) without developmental disabilities, but were less likely to die than adults with other developmental disabilities (males: adjusted RR 0.66, 95%CI 0.55–0.79; females: adjusted RR 0.55, 95%CI 0.43–0.71). Most common causes of death varied depending on a person's sex and diagnosis. Given the greater likelihood of premature mortality in adults with developmental disabilities including autism, greater attention and resources directed toward their health and social care are needed, tailored to their sex and diagnosis-informed needs.

Citation

Lunsky, Y., Lai, M., Balogh, R., Chung, H., Durbin, A., Jachyra, P., Tint, A., Weiss, J., & Lin, E. (2022). Premature mortality in a population‐based cohort of autistic adults in Canada. Autism Research, 15(8), 1550-1559. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2741

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 28, 2022
Online Publication Date May 28, 2022
Publication Date 2022-08
Deposit Date Jul 8, 2022
Journal Autism Research
Print ISSN 1939-3792
Electronic ISSN 1939-3806
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 15
Issue 8
Pages 1550-1559
DOI https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2741
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1198506