NEW DELHI New Delhi: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a significant health burden in India, according to a study published in The Lancet Psychiatry journal on Friday. Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder. This condition mainly affects how people interact, communicate and behave with others.
A study based on the Global Burden of Disease, Injury and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2021 has ranked autism among the top 10 causes of non-fatal health burden among youth under 20 years of age. The study revealed that India In 2021, there were 708·1 cases of ASD per 100,000 people in the United States. Of these, 483·7 were females, while 921·4 were males. In India, approximately 140 out of 100,000 individuals suffered from poor health and disability due to ASD in 2021.
Globally, an estimated 61.8 million people, or one in every 127 individuals, were autistic in 2021. The study also showed stark disparities by gender. The global prevalence of ASD was found to be significantly higher in males, with 1,065 cases per 100,000 males. This was almost double the global prevalence in women (508 per 100,000 women), the study showed.
While high-income Asia Pacific, including Japan, recorded the highest prevalence globally (1,560 per 100,000 people), tropical Latin America and Bangladesh reported the lowest incidence of ASD. “This finding is consistent with findings across the world,” the researchers said. Underscores the urgent need for early identification and continued support for autistic individuals and their caregivers,” while also emphasizing the need to prioritize resources for early detection of the disease. The researchers called for better diagnostic tools to be developed, particularly for adults and people living in low- and middle-income countries, who have limited access to care, caregiver support, and services that can alter the lives of autistic individuals. To suit the changing needs of the world. Additionally, the team also highlighted the need to improve geographic data coverage and targeted interventions to address co-morbidity and mortality risks, such as suicide, in people with ASD.
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