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Review
. 2019;79(Suppl 1):4-9.

[Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in USA, Europe and Spain: coincidences and discrepancies]

[Article in Spanish]
Ignacio Málaga  1 , Raquel Blanco-Lago  2 , Antonio Hedrera-Fernández  2 , Nelly Álvarez-Alvarez  2 , Virginia Ainhoa Oreña-Ansonera  2 , Mónica Baeza-Velasco  2
Affiliations
  • PMID: 30776272
Free article
Review

[Prevalence of autism spectrum disorders in USA, Europe and Spain: coincidences and discrepancies]

[Article in Spanish]
Ignacio Málaga et al. Medicina (B Aires). 2019.
Free article

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Autism spectrum disorders are a heterogeneous group of disorders that share the presence of two core symptoms: problems in social interaction / communication and the tendency to present restricted interests and repetitive behavior. Over the last years, several epidemiologic studies have been published by different authors in diverse countries, having all of them shown two common characteristics: a global increase in the prevalence rates of autism spectrum disorders, and the existence of a great geographical variability no only between geographical areas, but also within the same geographical areas. At the present manuscript, we analyze some of the most recent prevalence data published in USA and some European countries (including Spain). All of them show different prevalence rates, ranging from 1/59 children with autism spectrum disorders in the USA to 1/806 in Portugal. In a second part, we briefly describe some of the current scientific hypotheses that try to explain this variability.

Los trastornos del espectro autista (TEA) engloban a un grupo heterogéneo de trastornos del neurodesarrollo que tienen en común la presencia de problemas para la interacción/comunicación social y la tendencia a mostrar intereses restringidos o conductas repetitivas. Diversos estudios epidemiológicos realizados en diferentes países en los últimos años han mostrado de forma consistente dos características: el incremento progresivo en la prevalencia de los TEA a nivel mundial y la existencia de una gran variabilidad geográfica entre territorios y dentro de un mismo territorio. En el presente artículo analizamos los datos de prevalencia más recientemente publicados en EE.UU. y en diversos países de Europa (incluyendo España), que muestran tasas de prevalencia muy variables, con un rango que abarca desde 1/59 niños con trastornos del espectro autista en EE. UU., hasta 1/806 en Portugal. En un segundo tiempo describimos brevemente algunas de las principales hipótesis que intentan explicar esta variabilidad.

Keywords: Asperger; autism; childhood; pediatrics; prevalence.

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