Incidence and cohort prevalence for autism spectrum disorders in the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador

Lorine Pelly; Cathy Vardy; Bridget Fernandez; Leigh Anne Newhook; Roger Chafe

doi:10.9778/cmajo.20140056

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Table 1: Characteristics of patients with a diagnosis of ASD, aged 0–14 yr, living in the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador

Characteristic	No. of patients (%) n = 272
Sex
Male	234 (86.0)
Female	38 (14.0)
Age at diagnosis, yr
0 < 1	0 (0.0)
1 < 2	10 (3.7)
2 < 3	77 (28.3)
3 < 4	57 (21.0)
4 < 5	33 (12.1)
5 < 7	43 (15.8)
7 < 11	44 (16.2)
11 < 15	8 (2.9)
Specific diagnosis
ASD	74 (27.2)
AD	130 (47.8)
Asperger syndrome	56 (20.6)
PDD-NOS	12 (4.4)
Autism diagnostic observational schedule
Yes	269 (98.9)
No	3 (1.1)
Autism diagnostic observational schedule module (n = 269)
I	112 (41.6)
II	75 (27.9)
III	82 (30.5)
IV	0 (0.0)
Genetics referral
Yes	193 (71.0)
No	1 (0.4)
Unknown	78 (28.6)
Neuroimaging
Yes	79 (29.0)
No	185 (68.0)
Unknown	8 (3.0)
Provincial autism program referral
Yes	195 (71.7)
No	75 (27.6)
Unknown	2 (0.7)
Seizures	14 (5.1)
Birthmarks	14 (5.1)
Congenital anomalies	16 (5.9)
Developmental regression	23 (8.5)
Behavioural issues	28 (10.3)
Dietary restrictions or issues	17 (6.3)
Sleep disturbance	13 (4.8)
GI symptomatology	12 (4.4)
Anxiety	25 (9.2)
OCD	9 (3.3)
Depression	0 (0.00)
ADHD	27 (9.9)
Other	19 (7.0)

Note: AD = autistic disorder, ADHD = attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, ASD = autism spectrum disorder, GI = gastrointestinal, OCD = obsessive compulsive, PDD-NOS = persuasive developmental disorder-not otherwise specified.

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Table 2: Number of new ASD diagnoses in patients aged 0–14 yr in the Avalon Peninsula, Newfoundland and Labrador
Year No. of cases
n = 272 Incidence per 10 000 population (95% CI)
2006 40 10.1 (7.2−13.7)
2007 50 12.7 (9.4−16.7)
2008 54 13.7 (10.3−17.8)
2009 62 15.7 (12.0−20.1)
2010 66 16.7 (12.9−21.3)
Note: Denominator = 39 498 (average of census populations in 2006 and 2011).