Health Services Use and Costs in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder in Germany: Results from a Survey in ASD Outpatient Clinics

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Juliana Höfer - , University of Oldenburg (Author)
  • Falk Hoffmann - , University of Oldenburg (Author)
  • Michael Dörks - , University of Oldenburg (Author)
  • Inge Kamp-Becker - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Charlotte Küpper - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin (Author)
  • Luise Poustka - , University of Göttingen, Heidelberg University , Medical University of Vienna (Author)
  • Stefan Roepke - , Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (Author)
  • Veit Roessner - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Sanna Stroth - , University of Marburg (Author)
  • Nicole Wolff - , Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy (Author)
  • Christian J. Bachmann - , Ulm University (Author)

Abstract

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are associated with high services use, but European data on costs are scarce. Utilisation and annual costs of 385 individuals with ASD (aged 4–67 years; 18.2% females; 37.4% IQ < 85) from German outpatient clinics were assessed. Average annual costs per person were 3287 EUR, with psychiatric inpatient care (19.8%), pharmacotherapy (11.1%), and occupational therapy (11.1%) being the largest cost components. Females incurred higher costs than males (4864 EUR vs. 2936 EUR). In a regression model, female sex (Cost Ratio: 1.65), lower IQ (1.90), and Asperger syndrome (1.54) were associated with higher costs. In conclusion, ASD-related health costs are comparable to those of schizophrenia, thus underlining its public health relevance. Higher costs in females demand further research.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)540-552
Number of pages13
JournalJournal of autism and developmental disorders
Volume2022
Issue number52(2)
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2022
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 33728496

Keywords

Sustainable Development Goals

Keywords

  • Adolescents, Adults, Children, Costs, Germany, Health services

Library keywords