Journal article
Autism, Obesity, and PTSD Among Adolescents and Young Adults: An Analysis of National Medicaid Claims Data
Journal of autism and developmental disorders
17 May 2025
PMID: 40381092
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Autistic individuals disproportionately experience obesity, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and a range of other adverse health outcomes, relative to both the general population and those with other developmental conditions. These individuals also disproportionately experience Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Many of these conditions emerge during adolescence and young adulthood (age 15-30). This study analyzed Medicaid claims data (2008-2019) from autistic (n = 627,586; M age = 17.15 [3.55]) and non-autistic (n = 1,223,161; M age 19.35 [4.56]) adolescent and young adults. Using logistic regression and adjusting for demographic and clinical characteristics, this study: (1) evaluated associations between the presence of autism, obesity, and other health co-morbidities using the Adolescent and Young Adult (AYA) Hope Comorbidity Index; and (2) tested PTSD as a moderator in these associations. Compared with non-autistic beneficiaries, autistic beneficiaries demonstrated 2.12 (95% CI: 2.09, 2.15) and 2.12 (95% CI: 2.09, 2.16) times the odds of having obesity and other health comorbidities, respectively. PTSD moderated these associations such that autism status was more strongly associated with obesity and health co-morbidities among those without a PTSD diagnosis compared to those with a PTSD diagnosis. Autistic adolescents and young adults experience higher rates of obesity, health co-morbidities, and PTSD relative to their non-autistic counterparts. Future work is needed to explore measurement of stress and trauma beyond PTSD diagnoses and elucidate the precise association between stress and trauma with adverse health outcomes in this population.
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Details
- Title
- Autism, Obesity, and PTSD Among Adolescents and Young Adults: An Analysis of National Medicaid Claims Data
- Creators
- Emily Hotez - University of California, Los AngelesRebecca K Tsevat - University of California, Los AngelesSha Tao - Drexel UniversityJenny Mai Phan - Center for Autism and Related DisordersPhilip Smith - Drexel UniversityTammy Shen - University of California, Los AngelesJonas Ventimiglia - Drexel UniversityLiliana Rivera - University of California, Los AngelesHailey Kissner - Drexel UniversityLisa A Croen - Kaiser PermanenteLindsay Shea - Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Journal of autism and developmental disorders
- Publisher
- Springer Nature
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- HRSA-23-069 / Maternal and Child Health Bureau
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- A.J. Drexel Autism Institute; Health Management and Policy
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:001489539100001
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-105005111707
- Other Identifier
- 991022053829104721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Psychology, Developmental