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Brief Report: Emergency Department Utilization by Individuals with Autism

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Abstract

To identify medical problems most commonly presenting to emergency departments among individuals with autism as compared to non-autistic persons across age groups. Data was obtained from the 2010 National Emergency Department database and was analyzed by age categories: 3–5, 6–11, 12–15, 16–18 and 19 years and older. Epilepsy emerged as the leading presenting diagnosis among those with Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ages 16–19 years and 19 over. Psychiatric conditions were primary among ASD individuals aged 12–15 years, accounting for more than 11 % of all visits. In this sample, age-related differences were noted in medical diagnoses among autistic individuals as compared to non-autistic persons.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported through the Organization for Autism Research (OAR), through their doctoral student research grant program. The corresponding author was a doctoral student at Simmons College School of Social Work when the grant was received.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates, 330 Baker Avenue, Concord, MA, 01742, USA

    Dorothea A. Iannuzzi

  2. Division of General Academic Pediatrics, Center for Child and Adolescent Health Research and Policy, Massachusetts General Hospital for Children, 100 Cambridge St, 15th Floor, Boston, MA, 02114, USA

    Erika R. Cheng & Sarabeth Broder-Fingert

  3. Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, 72 East Concord St (L 1004), Boston, MA, 02118, USA

    Margaret L. Bauman

  4. Department of Behavioral Health, Atrius Health, Concord, MA, USA

    Dorothea A. Iannuzzi

Authors
  1. Dorothea A. Iannuzzi
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  2. Erika R. Cheng
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  3. Sarabeth Broder-Fingert
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  4. Margaret L. Bauman
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Correspondence to Dorothea A. Iannuzzi.

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Iannuzzi, D.A., Cheng, E.R., Broder-Fingert, S. et al. Brief Report: Emergency Department Utilization by Individuals with Autism. J Autism Dev Disord 45, 1096–1102 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2251-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-014-2251-2

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