Authors:
Bebbington A; Glasson E; Bourke J; De Klerk N; Leonard H
Authors notes:
BMJ Open. 2013;3(2):online
Keywords:
Intellectual disability, Autism spectrum disorder, Data linkage cohort, Hospitalisation, Risk factor
Abstract:
To describe the hospitalisation patterns in children with intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD) after the first year of life and compare with those unaffected.
ID and/or ASD were found to be associated with an increased risk of hospitalisation compared with the remainder of the population.
The increase in risk was highest in those with severe ID and no ASD.
For those with ID of known biomedical cause or mild ID of unknown cause, the risk of hospitalisation was lower.
Those with ASDs had slightly increased risk.
Children with an ID or ASD experience an increased risk of hospitalisation after the first year of life which varied from 2 to 10 times that of the rest of the population.
Findings can inform service planning or resource allocation for these children with special needs.