Impact of COVID-19 in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders: Analysis of a National Private Claims Insurance Database

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a detrimental impact on individuals with disabilities. Data from FAIR Healths FH(R) NPIC (National Private Insurance Claims) database,1 one of the nations largest databases of private insurance claim records, were analyzed to understand the experiences of individuals with ASD in COVID-19 pandemic. Multivariate logistic regression models revealed that individuals with ASD + ID were nine times more likely to be hospitalized (OR = 9.3; 95% CI: 6.9 - 12.5) and were nearly six times more likely have an elevated length of hospital stay(OR = 5.9; 95% CI: 3.5 - 10.1) compared those without ASD + ID. These findings point to their need for prioritization in access to vaccines for preventing COVID-19 infection and morbidities.