Benevides Teal W, Cook Barb, Klinger Laura G, McLean Kiley J, Wallace Gregory L, Carey Meghan E, Lee Wei-Lin, Ventimiglia Jonas, Schiff Lauren D, Shea Lindsay
Institute of Public and Preventive Health, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Suite 2300, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
Faculty of the Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, Australia.
J Autism Dev Disord. 2024 Aug 29. doi: 10.1007/s10803-024-06516-x.
Menopause is a normal part of aging and in the general population is associated with chronic conditions that impact health, mortality, and well-being. Menopause is experienced differently by autistic individuals, although no studies have investigated this topic in a large sample. The purpose of this study was to investigate rates of, and factors associated with symptomatic menopause among autistic individuals and to identify the prevalence of co-occurring conditions in symptomatic individuals. We included autistic females aged 35-70 years enrolled for 10 + months in 2014-2016 Medicare and/or Medicaid (n = 26,904), excluding those with gender dysphoria. Those with symptomatic menopause were compared to a non-symptomatic reference group on demographic, enrollment characteristics, and co-occurring conditions through logistic regression. Approximately 4% of publicly-insured autistic females aged 46-70 years had symptomatic menopause in their medical records. Intellectual disability was associated with a lower likelihood of symptomatic menopause, and being Medicare-enrolled or dual-enrolled was associated with higher likelihood of having symptomatic menopause recorded. In adjusted models, rates of ADHD, anxiety and depressive disorders, headache/migraine, altered sensory experiences, altered sexual function, and sleep disturbance were significantly higher in the symptomatic menopause sample compared to the reference group. More work to better support autistic women in discussing menopausal symptoms and co-occurring conditions with primary care providers is needed, particularly among those for whom self-report of symptoms are more challenging to ascertain. Factors associated with specific types of health care coverage warrant greater investigation to support better identification.
更年期是衰老过程中的正常阶段,在普通人群中,它与影响健康、死亡率和幸福感的慢性疾病相关。自闭症患者经历更年期的方式有所不同,尽管尚无研究在大样本中对此主题进行调查。本研究的目的是调查自闭症患者中有症状更年期的发生率及其相关因素,并确定有症状患者中共存疾病的患病率。我们纳入了2014 - 2016年参加医疗保险和/或医疗补助计划达10个月以上的35 - 70岁自闭症女性(n = 26,904),排除了性别焦虑症患者。通过逻辑回归,将有症状更年期患者与无症状对照组在人口统计学、登记特征和共存疾病方面进行比较。在有公共保险的46 - 70岁自闭症女性的病历中,约4%有症状更年期。智力残疾与有症状更年期的可能性较低相关,而参加医疗保险或双重参保与有症状更年期记录的可能性较高相关。在调整模型中,与对照组相比,有症状更年期样本中注意力缺陷多动障碍、焦虑和抑郁障碍、头痛/偏头痛、感觉体验改变、性功能改变和睡眠障碍的发生率显著更高。需要开展更多工作,以更好地支持自闭症女性与初级保健提供者讨论更年期症状和共存疾病,特别是对于那些症状自我报告更难确定的患者。与特定类型医疗保险覆盖相关的因素值得进一步研究,以支持更好的识别。