Contribution of an Ambidirectional Cohort Study on the Epidemiology of 186 Autism Spectrum Disorder Cases in an Algerian Population

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) affects more than 80,000 children under the age of 18 in Algeria, making it a major public health problem. It is characterized by communication abnormalities, restricted and stereotyped behaviours and resistance to change. To date, scientific publications on autism in Algeria are very rare. This study proposes to report the clinical and paraclinical profiles of ASD children or young adults in an Algerian population, as well as the prenatal, perinatal and postnatal factors associated with ASD. We conducted an ambidirectional cohort study (retrospective and prospective) on 186 persons (143 boys and 43 girls) with a diagnosis of ASD who ranged in chronological age from 3 to 25 years (mean = 7 years 8 months; standard deviation = 3 years 9 months). Data were collected from medical records and patients interviews. The ASD diagnosis was carried out according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition, revised, to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-5th Ed (DSM-5) criteria, the Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS), Autism Diagnostic Interview-Revised and Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule. Insomnia (36.6%) and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (13%) were the main comorbidities associated with autism. Most of the children (63.4%) were treated following the Treatment and Education of Autistic and Related Communication Handicapped Children. The rate of prenatal, perinatal and postnatal risk factors was registered among the ASD population. The clinical features and comorbidities of autism present among the study group were similar to findings in individuals with ASD in other parts of the world.