Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Centro region of Portugal: a population based study of school age children within the ASDEU project

Célia Rasga; João Xavier Santos; Cátia Café; Alexandra Oliveira; Frederico Duque; Manuel Posada; Ana Nunes; Guiomar Oliveira; Astrid Moura Vicente

doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1148184

Prevalence of Autism Spectrum Disorder in the Centro region of Portugal: a population based study of school age children within the ASDEU project

Front Psychiatry. 2023 Aug 30:14:1148184. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1148184. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Célia Rasga^{1

2}, João Xavier Santos^{1

2}, Cátia Café^{3

4}, Alexandra Oliveira^{3

4}, Frederico Duque^{3

4}, Manuel Posada⁵, Ana Nunes^{2

6}, Guiomar Oliveira^{3

4}, Astrid Moura Vicente^{1

2}

Affiliations

¹ Instituto Nacional de Saúde Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisboa, Portugal.
² Faculty of Sciences, University of Lisboa, BioISI - Biosystems & Integrative Sciences Institute, Lisboa, Portugal.
³ Unidade de Neurodesenvolvimento e Autismo, Serviço do Centro de Desenvolvimento da Criança, Centro de Investigação e Formação Clínica, Hospital Pediátrico, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁴ Faculty of Medicine, University Clinic of Pediatrics and Coimbra Institute for Biomedical Imaging and Translational Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
⁵ Institute of Rare Diseases Research, IIER, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, ISCIII, Madrid, Spain.
⁶ Departamento de Física, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.

Abstract

Introduction: Accurate prevalence estimates for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are fundamental to adequately program medical and educational resources for children. However, estimates vary globally and across Europe, and it is therefore wise to conduct epidemiological studies in defined geo-cultural contexts.

Methods: We used a population screening approach to estimate the prevalence of ASD in the Centro region of Portugal, using a harmonized protocol as part of the Autism Spectrum Disorders in the European Union (ASDEU) project.

Results: The overall prevalence was estimated at 0.5% (95% CI 0.3-0.7), higher in schools with Autism Units (3.3%, 95%CI 2.7-3.9) than in regular schools (0.3%, 95% CI 0.1-0.5) or schools with Multiple Disability Units (0.3%, 95% CI 0.04-0.6).

Discussion: The results indicate that the diagnosis of ASD is followed by the most effective educational policies in Centro Region. The variability in prevalence estimates across the different regions from the ASDEU project, and globally, is discussed.

Keywords: ASDEU study; autism; epidemiology; population survey; prevalence.