Government Watch

 


New Jersey Autism Study
                                                                                                                                
New Jersey and many states have seen increases in the number of children diagnosed with autism.   The true prevalence of autism in New Jersey is unknown and it is unclear whether the apparent increase in autism rates is due to better recognition of the disorder or to actual increase in prevalence.

The New Jersey Autism Study was established by researchers at the New Jersey Medical School to monitor autism prevalence in our state.  This population-based, public health investigation determined Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) by a two phase process involving systematic review of a wide range of health and education records, followed by independent case determination by experts, using DSM-IV-based diagnostic criteria.

Given the thoroughness of the case-finding method, the large population of New Jersey and the need to establish collaborative agreements with many health and education sources to carry out this investigation, surveillance activities were implemented in Hudson, Essex, Union and Ocean Counties.  This four county region is populous and diverse, encompassing approximately 25% of the total state population.  Annual birth cohort of this region is 34,000.

The subjects of this investigation were two cohorts of 8 year old children, born in 1992 and 1994.  Baseline autism prevalence rates for New Jersey have been determined for two years – 2000 and 2002 and compared with rates in fourteen states participating in the Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring (ADDM) Network. The goal of the Network is to provide comparable, population-based, estimates of autism prevalence in different states, over time. 

In addition to establishing accurate baseline autism rates, this investigation will identify whether autism is more common in some groups of children than in others and will determine whether the number of children with autism is changing, over time. 

The New Jersey Autism Study was carried out under cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).  
For more information please visit: www.cdc.gov/autism
The New Jersey Autism Study has determined that autism prevalence rates in the surveillance region were 9.9 per 1,000 and 10.6 per 1,000 in 2000 and 2002, respectively.   These autism rates are higher than estimates from earlier US population-based studies and higher than rates determined by ADDM Network sites using the same epidemiologic method, but consistent with autism rates from two European studies.  

While we cannot say for certain why autism rates are higher in New Jersey, it is likely that superior case information contained in the source records enhanced our ability to determine cases of autism.

A 1% prevalence rate confirms that autism is one of the most common severe developmental disabilities, occurring as frequently as mental retardation.  

Our findings are important for educators, health providers and policy makers.   By appreciating the true scope of autism in our state, we can begin to make realistic plans for serving affected children and their families.  

Since the New Jersey surveillance region is demographically consistent with the population of northern New Jersey counties and with the surrounding New York Metropolitan Area, our autism estimates may accurately represent the prevalence of autism in the entire metropolitan area.   

To determine changes in autism prevalence or in the expression of autism, ongoing monitoring is needed.   The New Jersey investigators are undertaking autism surveillance activities for 2006, conducting further analyses and developing plans for case-control studies.  
For further information, please contact:

Walter Zahorodny, Ph.D.
New Jersey Medical School
Pediatrics Department
185 South Orange Avenue
Newark, New Jersey 07103
PHONE: (973) 972-6577

PHONE: (973) 972-6577
FAX: (973) 972-2095
 
 


February 2007