ArticleOsong public health and research perspectives2025
The global prevalence of autism spectrum disorder in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Article in Osong public health and research perspectives, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 41 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
41 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- The impact of maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy and risk of autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and symptoms in offspring: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis.European child & adolescent psychiatry · 2026Pooled it
- The association between autism and psychosis and the tools used to measure it: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.The British journal of clinical psychology · 2026Pooled it
- Anti-Inflammatory Diet and Probiotic Supplementation as Strategies to Modulate Immune Dysregulation in Autism Spectrum Disorder.Nutrients · 2025Trial
- Gender-Based Differences in Autism Spectrum Disorder: Evidence From an Indian Clinical Cohort.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
- Environmental Risk Factors, Toxic Metals, and Essential Elements in Urine Samples of Algerian Children with Severe Autism Spectrum Disorder and Neurotypical Children.Biological trace element research · 2026Article
- Burden and risk factors of autism spectrum disorder: global study and analysis.Pediatric research · 2026Article
- Analysis of the global burden, biological risk factors, and implications of autism spectrum disorder.Pediatric research · 2026Article
- Cochlear Implantation in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Narrative Review.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- Cluster analysis based on sensory characteristics of children with autism spectrum disorder and its impact on emotional and behavioral manifestations and parenting stress.BMC psychiatry · 2026Article
- Article
- Genetic Susceptibility to Autism Spectrum Disorders: Folate Pathway Polymorphisms, Mediterranean Diet and Evolutionary Insights.Journal of molecular neuroscience : MN · 2026Article
- Iterative Adaptations in a Physical Activity Program for Children with Autism: A Feasibility and Implementation Study.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Neurodevelopmental outcomes of children born to diabetic mothers in the Qatari population: a retrospective study.BMJ paediatrics open · 2026Article
- Stepped-Care Digital Gaming Intervention Enhanced Emotion Recognition in Autistic Children: A Randomized Controlled Trial.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
- Architects of the Developing Brain: Cytoskeleton-Organizing Molecules in Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Cells · 2026Review
- The Effects of a Sport-Based Training Program on Reaction Time and Fine Motor Coordination in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Study.Sports (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Assortative Mating and Increase in Prevalence and Severity of Autistic Spectrum Disorder in Children-A Systematic Review.Children (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Review
- From Genetic Determinism to Epigenetic Regulation: Paradigm Shifts in the Understanding of Neurodevelopmental Disorders.Current issues in molecular biology · 2026Review
- Decoding BDNF in neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neurological disorders: mechanisms and therapeutic perspectives.Molecular biology reports · 2026Review
- Machine Learning-Assisted Autism Risk Stratification in Toddlers Using the Vietnamese M-CHAT-R and Perinatal Predictors: A Cross-Sectional Study in Vietnam.Journal of autism and developmental disorders · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe objective of this review was to analyze quantitative data on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and to increase the accuracy of estimates of the prevalence of ASD.
methodsThis review, which was reported in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses statement, included studies conducted from January 2008 to June 2024 on children aged 3 to 18 years that used standardized measurement tools and reported cut-off scores for ASD. The prevalence of ASD was the primary outcome analyzed in this review. The PubMed, Clinical Key, Scopus, Embase, CINAHL, and Web of Science databases were reviewed for relevant studies. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO and followed the Cochrane collaboration guidelines.
resultsA total of 66 studies reported on the prevalence of ASD, screening 21,313,061 children worldwide. Among these, 25 studies were conducted in Europe, 22 in Asia, and 13 in America. Additionally, 3 studies each were reported from Africa and Australia. According to a meta-analysis, 0.77% of children globally are diagnosed with ASD, with boys comprising 1.14% of this group. Notably, Australia showed the highest prevalence rate, with an effect size of 2.18, highlighting it as a critical area for public health focus.
conclusionASD represents a significant global health burden. Early detection, increased awareness among parents, and prompt intervention are crucial for mitigating developmental problems in children later in life. It is essential for health policymakers to acknowledge the prevalence and growing trends of ASD in order to implement effective interventions.
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