Since the beginning of the public health crisis, people with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have faced unique and difficult challenges. Service disruptions, educational system failures, and disruptions to daily living have all had an influence on people with the autistic spectrum.
Now, a new study has found that people with autism are more prone than others to get COVID-19.
ASD is a developmental condition characterised by social, communicative, and behavioral difficulties. It is a spectrum disorder, which means that while all persons with autism will have comparable symptoms, their disease will affect them differently overall. Some people may be able to live very independent lives, but others will require specialized care for the rest of their lives.
According to the findings of the current study, adults on the autism spectrum, as well as those with intellectual disabilities or mental health disorders, are at a higher risk of getting COVID-19 and developing more severe illness if infected.
The SAGE study looked at autistic persons and other adults with intellectual disabilities aged 20 to 64 years and discovered that they have greater risk factors for COVID-19.
Whitney Schott, a research scientist at the Autism Institute and the study’s primary author, explained:
“Results show that individuals on the autism spectrum, those with ID, and those with MHC are at higher risk of exposure to COVID-19 and/or more severe illness if they contract COVID-19.“
Comorbidity findings are consistent with previously reported estimates of increased comorbidity prevalence among autistic people and persons with ID or MHC.
Researchers examined Medicaid data to see if these groups were more likely to have COVID-19 risk factors.
They emphasized that, despite the fact that the Medicaid data studied ranged from 2008 to 2012, risk factors like as staying in a residential facility are unlikely to have decreased over time.
“These high-risk populations should be recognised by clinicians and these groups should be prioritised for vaccine outreach and education,” said Schott.
Furthermore, being aware of the dangers can aid in decision-making when caring for these populations.
The study has revealed a higher prevalence in several specific health issues, not just autism, that may put someone at risk of serious illness if infected with COVID-19.
When researching the risk to persons with intellectual disabilities, other elements that may account for catching the virus were taken into account.
People who were residing in a primary care shortage region; living in a residential facility; getting help in the house from outside caregivers on a regular basis; having had a long hospitalization, whether psychiatric or inpatient, in the previous five years; and having had needless hospitalizations were included.
The researchers also looked at risk variables for COVID-19-related severe illness.
The study also discovered that autistic persons without an intellectual disability were more likely to have underlying health issues that could lead to more severe COVID-19 illness.
According to the authors, this risk should inspire policymakers to prioritise autistic people and those with intellectual disabilities in booster immunisation programmes.
Dr Lindsay Shea, the co-author of the report and director of the Autism Institute’s Life Course Outcomes Research Program, stated:
“Care providers, policymakers and advocates should be aware of the higher rates — among autistic adults, adults with intellectual disability and adults with mental health diagnoses — of risk factors for contracting COVID-19 and more severe illness if infected.“
“It is important to intensify outreach efforts to vaccinate these vulnerable groups.”
Trusted health care providers with pre-existing ties are seen to be in the best position to help persons on the autistic spectrum move up the waiting list for a third coronavirus shot.
Dr Shea believes that more efforts should be made to deliver up-to-date information on safe procedures such as wearing face-coverings, keeping physical distance, and boosting ventilation.
Dr Robert Hendren, a psychiatrist and the head of the programme for research on neurodevelopment and translational effects at the University of California, San Francisco, investigated the problems associated with coping with autism during the epidemic.
He said: “Sometimes it is difficult for people with ASD to wear masks and keep social distancing, [and they place] themselves and others at increased risk of spreading or acquiring COVID-19.”
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