TY  - JOUR
AU  - Ekvan, Mohammad Hossein
AU  - Sahebi, Ali
AU  - Kord, Maryam
AU  - Soltanali, Zahra
AU  - Ahmadi, Amir Hossein
AU  - Mohamadi, Somayeh
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/04/13
TI  - The Prevalence of Autism in the World: An Umbrella Review and Meta-Analysis
JO  - OBM Neurobiology
SP  - 332
VL  - 10
IS  - 02
AB  - Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by persistent challenges in social interactions and repetitive behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of autism and autism spectrum disorder(ASD) in normal and abnormal groups, such as premature infants or seizure patients, using an umbrella review and meta-analysis. This study was conducted in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines. Scientific sources included PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar, and searches were conducted without time limits until the end of September 2024. Meta-analysis was performed using a random-effects model and heterogeneity using an I2 index. Of the 799 articles identified, 30 were included in the meta-analysis. The prevalence of autism was 15.8 per 10,000 (CI = 10.5-21.0, P < 0.001) in normal samples and 600 per 10,000 (CI = 412-793, P = 0.77) in abnormal samples. The overall prevalence of autism was 18.1 per 10,000 (CI = 10.9-25.4, P < 0.001). The prevalence of ASD in normal samples was 48.9 per 10,000 (CI = 31.6-66.1, P < 0.001) and in abnormal samples 900 per 10,000 (CI = 680-1121, P < 0.001). The overall prevalence of ASD was estimated to be 153 per 10,000 (CI = 125-180, P < 0.001). Given the prevalence of ASD and its link to environmental and genetic factors, increased public awareness and better diagnostic tools are needed. In addition, timely and accurate screening is recommended to prevent delays in diagnosis and treatment.
SN  - 2573-4407
UR  - https://doi.org/10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2602332
DO  - 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2602332
ID  - Ekvan2026
ER  -