Autism is linked to a nearly 14-year shorter life expectancy among Medicaid beneficiaries
A new study indicates that autistic individuals on Medicaid have a life expectancy nearly 14 years shorter than the general U.S. population. This stark gap is largely driven by preventable causes like infections, malnutrition, and fatal accidents.
A recent study has found that autistic individuals enrolled in Medicaid have a life expectancy that is nearly 14 years shorter than the general United States population. The research, published in JAMA Network Open, highlights specific health conditions and accidents that contribute to this significant gap. The study analyzed Medicaid records of 2.04 million beneficiaries diagnosed with autism between 2000 and 2020, and compared their mortality rates to the broader Medicaid population.
The average life expectancy at birth for those with autism was 64.9 years, compared to 70.5 years for the overall Medicaid population, and 79.3 years for the general U.S. population. The study found that autistic individuals were more than 44% more likely to die overall, with excess mortality driven by preventable causes such as influenza, malnutrition, pneumonia, and drowning.
The largest drop in life expectancy occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic, with autistic Medicaid beneficiaries losing 4.1 years compared to the previous five-year period, or equivalent to six simultaneous COVID-19-like pandemics.
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