Physical health needs and self-reported health status among adults with autism

Abstract

Self-reported health status is an integral method to understand how adults on the autism spectrum perceive their healthcare and service needs. The objective of the study is to examine how self-reported health changes with use and need of physical health services. The Pennsylvania autism needs assessment included a survey of adults on the autism spectrum responding for themselves. Self-reported health status change over the previous year was reported as improved, decreased, or stable. Adjusted multinomial logistic regression was used to identify characteristics of individuals who experienced decreased or improved health. A total of 1197 adults responded, with most respondents’ health remaining stable (68%). Respondents who had a decreased health status reported needing more physical health services (1.64 services) compared to respondents with stable health (1.07 services) and improved health (1.18 services). Respondents with a decreased health status had 1.23 higher odds (95% confidence interval: 1.08–1.40) of having an increase in one physical health service need as compared to those whose health remained stable. Increased physical health service needs were associated with a decreased health status. Adults on the autism spectrum can present with a complex array of needs and determining the role physical health services play in improving and maintaining health remains critical. Lay abstract Self-reported health can be a powerful measure of how adults with autism spectrum disorder view their overall health. The goal of this study was to determine how health statuses of adults with autism spectrum disorder change, when they are currently receiving or need more physical health services. The Pennsylvania autism needs assessment included a survey of individuals with autism aged 18 years or older responding for themselves. They indicated whether their health status changed over the previous year as improved, decreased, or remained stable. We found that most adults with autism spectrum disorder had their health remain the same (68%). We also found that adults who said their health got worse needed more physical health services, compared to those whose health remained stable, or got better. Supporting the health of adults with autism can be complex and finding out more about how physical health services play a role in that care is important.