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Autism
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Mortality and causes of death in autism spectrum disorders

An update

Svend Erik Mouridsen

Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark, sem01{at}bbh.hosp.dk

Henrik Brønnum-Hansen

National Institute of Public Health, Copenhagen, Denmark

Bente Rich

Odense University Hospital, Denmark

Torben Isager

Glostrup University Hospital, Denmark

This study compared mortality among Danish citizens with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) with that of the general population. A clinical cohort of 341 Danish individuals with variants of ASD, previously followed over the period 1960—93, now on average 43 years of age, were updated with respect to mortality and causes of death. Standardized mortality ratios (SMRs) were calculated for various times after diagnosis. In all, 26 persons with ASD had died, whereas the expected number of deaths was 13.5. Thus the mortality risk among those with ASD was nearly twice that of the general population. The SMR was particularly high in females. The excess mortality risk has remained unchanged since our first study in 1993. Eight of the 26 deaths were associated with epilepsy and four died from epilepsy. Future staff education should focus on better managing of the complex relationships between ASD and physical illness to prevent avoidable deaths.

Key Words: autism spectrum disorders • cause of death • mortality • standardized mortality ratio

Autism, Vol. 12, No. 4, 403-414 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1362361308091653
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