Patient Talk

Posted on Autism, Patient Talk

What are the Benefits of Autism?

:People with autism are not only just as capable of succeeding in life as people without autism, but they also have advantages in gaining success. Often, people take pity on those with autism, thinking that this is a disadvantage or a burden. Zach will explain how people with autism see problems from a unique perspective and how their different perspectives are beneficial. Zach believes it is important to bring this misconception to light because of the growing number of people diagnosed with autism.

Bio: Zach is a 9th-grade student at South Fayette High School. Zach is an active student, passionate about running varsity cross country and track, and participating in student government. He also participates in a program called “Random Acts of Kindness,” which brings joy to others through compassionate acts such as making cards for children in hospitals and cancer ribbons to show support. Zach also has a heart for people with mental health issues, actively showing support and kindness to friends. After high school, Zach is interested in pursuing a career in journalism. Zach would like to thank his family for their support throughout his life.

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“Adults with autism are at a higher risk for injuries and age-related conditions.”

Older adults with autism have a much higher risk of injury, including self-inflicted harm, as well as physical conditions like type 2 diabetes, anaemia, heart failure, and COPD. This information comes from a comprehensive registry study by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity.

Researchers identify muscle proteins whose quantity is reduced in type 2 diabetes



“We found that middle-aged and older autistic adults, both men and women, have an increased disease burden, regardless of the presence of intellectual disability,” said Shengxin Liu, a doctoral student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics at Karolinska Institutet. “Our findings highlight the need to improve the support and care for older autistic adults.”

In a study, researchers at KI found that older adults with autism have a higher risk of injury and certain physical conditions compared to non-autistic individuals of the same age and sex. This information comes from a registry study conducted by Karolinska Institutet in Sweden and published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity. Out of over four million people born between 1932 and 1967, 1,930 women and 3,361 men had been diagnosed with autism.

Seven-fold risk of self-harm

Autistic people had a higher risk of four of five studied injures, for which self-harm accounted for the greatest risk increase, followed by poisoning, falls and other physical injuries.

“The risk of self-harm was alarmingly high, being seven times higher than in non-autistic individuals,” Liu explains. “The reasons for this remain largely unknown. One possible contributing factor could be the presence of mental health conditions that frequently occur alongside autism, such as anxiety and depression.”

The researchers found that autistic people had a significantly higher risk for 15 different physical conditions. For instance, they had three times the risk of developing anemia and glucose dysregulation, and almost double the risk of heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).PD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease).

Multiple contributory factors

“We now need to find out the cause of these associations and how they are affected by factors such as biology, age at autism diagnosis, psychotropic treatment, and psychosocial environment,” says the study’s last author, Mark Taylor, senior researcher at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet. “But most importantly, researchers, health services, and policymakers need to cooperate to ensure that older autistic adults have a better quality of life.”

As this was an observational study, no causal relationships can be established, and the researchers were unable to consider variables such as socioeconomic status. Additionally, the study’s reliance on Swedish registers makes it challenging to generalize the findings to other countries.

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The rising popularity of Ozempic and Wegovy among privately insured patients could exacerbate disparities.

A USC study of prescription data shows that people with Medicaid or Medicare Part D may be missing out on powerful new obesity and diabetes drugs
A study conducted by USC on prescription data indicates that individuals with Medicaid or Medicare Part D plans may not be benefiting from new, effective medications for obesity and diabetes.

A new study from USC suggests that individuals with public insurance who could benefit from new drugs for diabetes and obesity are less likely to receive them compared to those with private insurance.

Prescription fills for the drug known as Ozempic or Wegovy, also called semaglutide, surged by over 400% from January 2021 to December 2023, according to new research in JAMA Health Forum. 

Semaglutide was initially approved for type 2 diabetes and later for weight loss. Studies have shown that it also improves blood pressure and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, which are common issues for millions of Americans. However, the majority of prescriptions for semaglutide were given to individuals with private insurance.

“Considering the established cardiovascular advantages of Ozempic and Wegovy for treating diabetes or obesity, and the higher prevalence of diabetes and obesity in Black/Latinx Medicaid and Part D populations, these results indicate that their limited use in Medicaid and Part D could exacerbate disparities in diabetes and obesity outcomes,” explained Dima Qato, who is an associate professor at the USC Mann School of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences and a senior scholar at the USC Leonard D. Schaeffer Center for Health Policy & Economics.

“While the media focuses on semaglutide’s anti-obesity effect, we should not overlook its significant role in treating diabetes. This medication has allowed me to help some of my patients reduce their reliance on insulin,” explained Christopher Scannell, a physician and postdoctoral researcher at the Schaeffer Center. He also highlighted the importance of ensuring broader access to these medications beyond just those with private insurance or more comprehensive health plans, as this is an issue of equity affecting a large portion of the U.S. population.

Please take note of the following information:Ozempic and Wegovy are both administered via once-weekly injections. Another form of semaglutide, Rybelsus, is available in the form of a daily pill. Ozempic was approved in 2017, followed by Rybelsus in 2019, both intended for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Wegovy, approved in 2021, is a higher-dose version specifically designed for weight loss. As for pricing, Ozempic’s sticker price is approximately $1,000 per month, while Wegovy is listed at around $1,350.

For the study, researchers utilized data from IQVIA’s National Prescription Audit PayerTrak, which captures 92% of prescriptions filled and dispensed to individuals at retail pharmacies in the United States.

They calculated monthly medication fills for semaglutide under different drug brands (Ozempic, Wegovy, and Rybelsus) and payment methods (commercial insurance, Medicaid, Medicare Part D, and cash) from January 2021 to December 2023.

  • Please make a note of the following text: In 2023, Medicaid accounted for less than 10% of semaglutide prescriptions across all three drug brands. According to Scannell, access to these drugs through Medicaid is determined at the state level. Whether or not the drugs are covered depends on the budget and politics of your specific location. It’s important to note that Medicaid provides assistance to low-income individuals, the elderly, and some people with disabilities.
     
  • In 2023, Medicare Part D represented 28.5% and 32.9% of Ozempic and Rybelsus fills, respectively. However, it only made up 1.2% of Wegovy fills. It’s important to note that Medicare Part D does not cover drugs for obesity unless a patient also has a co-morbidity such as cardiovascular disease, which both Wegovy and Ozempic can help prevent. 
  • Approximately 1% or less of all semaglutide fills went to people paying cash in 2023.

In the context of treating obesity, Scannell stated, “If Medicare only covers these drugs for patients who have obesity and a co-morbidity, it may force patients who only have obesity to develop additional chronic conditions before they can access the medications. It’s like saying, ‘You have to be sick enough, then we’ll cover that medication for you.’”

The researchers suggested that future studies should investigate how changes in Medicare Part D and Medicaid coverage restrictions impact disparities in access to these important medications. Additionally, further research could explore individual-level variables like age, race, and ethnicity, as well as whether the drugs were prescribed for obesity or diabetes.