PREVALENCE OF MEDICAL AND PSYCHIATRIC COMORBIDITIES IN CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER WHO ATTENDED ST. PAULS HOSPITAL MILLENIUM MEDICAL COLLEGE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition characterized by persistent challenges in social communication and interaction, as well as restricted, repetitive patterns of behavior. Individuals with ASD frequently experience a range of co-occurring medical and psychiatric conditions, known as comorbidities, which can significantly impact their overall health, development, and quality of life. In Ethiopia, there is a critical dearth of localized epidemiological data on the prevalence of these comorbidities, hindering the development of targeted, evidence-based interventions. Objective: The aim of this study is to assess the prevalence of medical and psychiatric comorbidities in autistic patients attending St. Paul’s Hospital. Methods: An institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 287 patients who visited the St. Paul’s Hospital Pediatric Psychiatric Outpatient Department in the time period of Sep 1, 2024- Aug 31, 2025 GC. Data were collected retrospectively from medical records. Descriptive statistics, including frequencies and percentages, were used to summarize socio-demographic characteristics and clinical profiles. Results:A total of 287 patient records were analyzed. The majority of the patients were male (78.4%, n=225), with an age range of 2 to 18 years. The study found a high prevalence of comorbidities: 88.11% of patients presented with at least one psychiatric comorbidity, and 43.71% had at least one medical comorbidity. The most prevalent psychiatric comorbidities were Language Impairment (65.5%), Intellectual Disability (52.3%), and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (41.1%). For medical comorbidities, Epilepsy/Seizure Disorder (21.6%), Gastrointestinal Issues (15.7%), and Nutritional Deficiencies (10.1%) were the most common. Conclusion and Recommendations: The prevalence of both psychiatric and medical comorbidities in children with ASD attending St. Paul’s Hospital is significantly high, underscoring the complex and multidimensional nature of ASD management needed in this setting as well as in the country. Implementation of integrated care that include routine screening for common psychiatric and medical conditions, particularly language impairment, intellectual disability, ADHD, and epilepsy, will be important to ensure holistic management. Key words: Autism Spectrum Disorder, Comorbidity, Prevalence, Psychiatric, Medical, Ethiopia