Children with ASD Are Particularly at Risk for Developing Diabetes
A recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics has discovered that people with autism are more likely to develop diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease than individuals without the disorder. The researchers behind this investigation also found that children with autism are more likely to develop diabetes compared to their neurotypical peers. Furthermore, they discovered that children with ASD are at a greater risk of hypertension. These findings suggest that physicians and clinicians who care for children and adults with autism should focus on cardiometabolic health more broadly. The current meta-analysis involved 34 previously published studies that included medical records of over 276,000 people with autism and approximately 8 million without the disorder. After analyzing data from these studies, the authors demonstrated that people with autism were 64% more likely to develop type 1 diabetes, 146% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes, and 46% more likely to have heart disease. Children with autism were almost twice as likely as their peers to develop diabetes (184%) and high blood pressure (154%). Interestingly, the researchers did not find an increased risk of stroke for people with autism across all age groups. The study suggests the increased risk could be associated with medication prescribing patterns. However, the lead author believes that the association is most likely due to a combination of genetics and medication history. A thought-provoking editorial accompanied this study. The piece points out that people with autism may die up to 30 years earlier than neurotypical people due to health problems highlighted in this analysis. The editorial’s author suggests that current healthcare systems often fail individuals with autism by not considering their specific needs, leading to their poor health outcomes.
