Epidemiological and Clinical Aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders in Congo

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a public health issue due to their increasing frequency and their impact on social and relational integration. The objective was to study the epidemiological and clinical aspects of ASD in Congo. Methodology: It was from a prospective cohort study conducted at the neurocognitive exploration unit of the CHU-B over a period of 21 months. It concerned patients with ASD aged 3 to 16 years. Their diagnosis was made according to the DSM-V criteria. Results: The frequency of ASD was high (55.6%). These were dominated by childhood autism (84.9%). The mean age of onset of signs was 16.1 ± 5.2 months and that of diagnosis was 7.1 ± 2.9 years. ASD was associated with intellectual disability (75.5%) and eating disorders (48.8%). Another neurodevelopmental disorder was found in all patients: intellectual disability (75.5%), learning disabilities (75.5%) and ADHD (32.1%). Psychiatric disorders (79.2%) and neurological disorders (70.8%) were the comorbidities associated with ASD. Conclusion: The frequency of ASD in Congo, although underestimated, is high, dominated by childhood autism with a delay in the recognition of signs by parents. They are often associated with a learning disability and ADHD. Hence, the need for parental awareness and early screening of ASD in schools in order to facilitate socio-relational integration.