13 Mar 2023 • People with autism are more likely to face diabetes, high cholesterol, and heart disease than those without, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics. It is estimated that worldwide about one in 100 children has autism.

For the new analysis, researchers pooled the results of 34 previously published studies, which included medical records of more than 276,000 people with autism and close to 8 million people without the condition. What did they find?

• People with autism were 64% more likely to develop type 1 diabetes
• 146% more likely to experience type 2 diabetes
• 46% more likely to have heart disease
• Overall almost twice as likely as their peers to develop diabetes (184%) and hypertension (154%).

The study found associations, not causation, and does not include detailed data about medication prescribing patterns. While the link between autism and risk for obesity and gastrointestinal ailments is well-established, the new findings suggest that clinicians who care for these patients — particularly children — should focus on cardiometabolic health more broadly.

Source: Medindia | Read full story