Xie Qianyi, Pan Ning, Ou Xiaoxuan, Shen Shuli, Jing Jin, Weng Xuchu, Shi Lei, Lin Lizi, Yang Jiaze, Li Xiangpeng, Zhang Kai, Chen Fangfang, Wang Yujie, Wu Jinqing, Wang Xin
Key Laboratory of Brain, Cognition and Education Sciences, Ministry of Education; Institute for Brain Research and Rehabilitation, and Guangdong Key Laboratory of Mental Health and Cognitive Science, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510631, Guangdong, China.
Research Center of Children and Adolescent Psychological and Behavioral Development, Department of Maternal and Child Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, Guangdong, China.
J Autism Dev Disord. 2025 Apr 29. doi: 10.1007/s10803-025-06846-4.
Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have long been reported to exhibit atypical pain experiences. Chronic physical pain is a significant comorbidity in ASD, leading to substantial burdens on daily functioning and quality of life. This study aims to examine the potential associations between ASD and chronic physical pain, including its specific types. The study used data on chronic physical pain and headaches from the 2016 - 2021 National Survey of Children's Health. Participants were children aged 3 to 17 years old. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the associations between ASD and pain-related indicators (e.g., chronic physical pain, headaches, and other back or body pain). The study included 177,539 children, of whom 5311 had a current ASD diagnosis. Among children with current ASD, 14.41% experienced chronic physical pain, with 4.86% reporting headaches and 9.56% reporting other back or body pain. Compared to those without, children with current ASD had higher odds of chronic physical pain [odds ratio (OR) = 1.76, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.40 - 2.21]. Notably, the odds of headaches (OR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.33 - 2.38) were higher than the odds of other back or body pain (OR = 1.62, 95% CI: 1.20 - 2.19). Children with current ASD were more likely to experience chronic physical pain than those without. This trend is more pronounced in headaches compared to other back or body pain. Our findings highlight the importance of prioritizing pain management in children with ASD through thorough physical assessments.
长期以来，有报道称自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）患者存在非典型疼痛体验。慢性身体疼痛是ASD的一种重要合并症，给日常功能和生活质量带来了沉重负担。本研究旨在探讨ASD与慢性身体疼痛之间的潜在关联，包括其具体类型。该研究使用了2016 - 2021年全国儿童健康调查中有关慢性身体疼痛和头痛的数据。参与者为3至17岁的儿童。采用广义线性模型来估计ASD与疼痛相关指标（如慢性身体疼痛、头痛以及其他背部或身体疼痛）之间的关联。该研究纳入了177,539名儿童，其中5311名目前被诊断为患有ASD。在目前患有ASD的儿童中，14.41%经历过慢性身体疼痛，4.86%报告有头痛，9.56%报告有其他背部或身体疼痛。与未患ASD的儿童相比，目前患有ASD的儿童患慢性身体疼痛的几率更高[优势比（OR）=1.76，95%置信区间（CI）：1.40 - 2.21]。值得注意的是，头痛的几率（OR = 1.78，95% CI：1.33 - 2.38）高于其他背部或身体疼痛的几率（OR = 1.62，95% CI：1.20 - 2.19）。目前患有ASD的儿童比未患ASD的儿童更有可能经历慢性身体疼痛。与其他背部或身体疼痛相比，这种趋势在头痛方面更为明显。我们的研究结果强调了通过全面的身体评估对ASD儿童的疼痛管理进行优先处理的重要性。
