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Prevalence in Canada
Epidemiological studies
are still in the early stages in Canada and more surveillance and
research are needed to develop accurate data on the prevalence of
ASDs. We do know that ASD is the most common form of any neurological disorder or severe developmental disability of childhood.
- The current prevalence of ASDs nationwide is estimated
to be more than 1 in 200 people. (Fombonne, E., 2003:
Modern Views of Autism, Can. J. Psychiatry, 48:503-505. Fombonne,
E., 2003: Epidemiology of autism and other pervasive developmental
disorders: an update. J. Autism. Dev. Disord. 33:365-381).
- The current prevalence in children is roughly .6% or one in 165 children. (Fombonne E, Zakarian R, Bennett A, Meng L, McLean-Heywood D. Pervasive developmental disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: prevalence and links with immunizations. Pediatrics. 2006 Jul;118(1):e139-50).
Recently Health Canada has promised to initiate research into conducting surveillance for ASDs. Autism
Society Canada continues to discuss the need for ASD surveillance
and monitoring and the current lack of reporting and accurate data
on ASD in Canada with Health Canada and other agencies.
Prevalence of autism in Canada
Autism is now recognized as the most common neurological disorder affecting children and one of the most common developmental disabilities:
- Most recent epidemiological studies show that the prevalence has increased from 40 to 60 per 10,000 which represents approximately 190,000 Canadians
- Approximately one in 165 children have an ASD
- Number of cases is increasing worldwide
Reference:
Fombonne, E., 2003: Modern Views of Autism, Can. J. Psychiatry, 48:503-505.
Fombonne, E., 2003: Epidemiology of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders: an update. J. Autism.Dev. Disord. 33:365-381
(Fombonne E, Zakarian R, Bennett A, Meng L, McLean-Heywood D. Pervasive developmental disorders in Montreal, Quebec, Canada: prevalence and links with immunizations. Pediatrics. 2006 Jul;118(1):e139-50). |
Prevalence of specific PDDs
- CDD Rare: ~ 0.2 in 10,000= ~ 500 Canadians
- Rett's Rare: ~ 1 in 10,000= ~ 3,150 Canadians
- Autistic Disorder: ~ 20 in 10,000= ~ 73,000 Canadians
- PDD-NOS: ~ 15 in 10,000= ~ 47,000 Canadians
- Asperger's: ~ 5 in 10,000= ~ 15,000 Canadians
Reference:
Fombonne, E., 2003: Modern Views of Autism, Can. J. Psychiatry, 48:503-505.
Fombonne, E., 2003: Epidemiology of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders: an update. J. Autism.Dev. Disord. 33:365-381
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ASD-CARC Research
In Canada, the Autism
Spectrum Disorders Canadian-American Research Consortium (ASD-CARC)
is establishing a database of Canadian children up to and including
14 years of age who have been diagnosed with or who are suspected
of having an ASD. Called the National Epidemiologic Database for the Study of Autism in Canada (NEDSAC), the project will
help researchers to learn more about how many children who live
in Canada have been diagnosed with an ASD (the prevalence), how
many children are diagnosed each year with an ASD in Canada (the
incidence), whether there are variations among regions or across
age groups, and how the prevalence and incidence vary over time.
It is hoped that NEDSAC will provide reliable estimates of ASD rates
for many parts of Canada, which will be updated on an ongoing basis.
Prevalence in the United States
The Centers for Disease
Control (CDC) released new data from multiple communities in the U.S. in February 2007 reporting that the prevalence rate of ASD in the United States was 1 in 150. An updated prevalence report from CDC’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network is currently in press and will be made available later this year.
Through the Autism
and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network (ADDM) and
the Centers of Excellence for Autism and Developmental Disabilities
Research and Epidemiology (CADDRE), the CDC is continuing to
fund prevalence studies on children with ASD in other parts of the
country. Through this network, states are currently beginning new
or improving existing surveillance mechanisms. The ADDM Network
is producing comparable, population-based estimates of the prevalence
rates of ASDs in different sites over time.
Autism Spectrum Disorders. What should you know? Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, United States.
New data show 1 in 110 children have an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, United States, 2006.
Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorders --- Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, United States, 2006.
U.S. Autism Prevalence Rises to 1 in 110. Carin Yavorcik, Autism Society of America, December 24, 2009: CDC Report Highlights Increased Prevalence, Continued Delay in Identification as Critical Public Health Crisis affecting American Families.
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