Quel est le ratio homme-femme dans le "trouble du spectre de l'autisme"? Une revue systématique et une méta-analyse

Aperçu: G.M.

Cinquante-quatre études ont été analysées, avec 13 784 284 participants, dont 53 712 avaient un  TSA (43 972 garçons et 9 740 filles).

La mesure de résultat combinée était le rapport de cote entre hommes et femmes (MFOR), à savoir la probabilité d'être masculin dans le groupe avec TSA par rapport à un groupe non-TSA. En effet, il s'agit du rapport TSA masculin-féminin, qui contrôle le rapport homme-femme entre les participants sans TSA. 

Le MFOR combiné global était de 4,20 (IC 95%: 3,84 à 4,60), mais il y avait une variabilité entre les études très importante (I2 = 90,9%). Les études de haute qualité avaient un MFOR inférieur (3,32; IC à 95%: 2,88 à 3,84). Les études qui ont examiné la population en général pour identifier les participants, indépendamment qu'ils aient déjà eu un diagnostic de TSA, ont montré un MFOR inférieur (3,25; IC à 95%: 2,93-3,62) comparé aux études qui ont seulement déterminé les participants avec un diagnostic TSA préexistant (MFOR 4,56; 95 % CI 4.10-5.07). 

J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry. 2017 Jun;56(6):466-474. doi: 10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.013. Epub 2017 Apr 5.

What Is the Male-to-Female Ratio in Autism Spectrum Disorder? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Loomes R¹, Hull L¹, Mandy WPL².

Author information

1

University College London, UK.

2

University College London, UK. Electronic address: w.mandy@ucl.ac.uk.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

To derive the first systematically calculated estimate of the relative proportion of boys and girls with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) through a meta-analysis of prevalence studies conducted since the introduction of the DSM-IV and the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision.

METHOD:

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were followed. The Medline, Embase, and PsycINFO databases were searched, and study quality was rated using a risk-of-bias tool. Random-effects meta-analysis was used. The pooled outcome measurement was the male-to-female odds ratio (MFOR), namely the odds of being male in the group with ASD compared with the non-ASD group. In effect, this is the ASD male-to-female ratio, controlling for the male-to-female ratio among participants without ASD.

RESULTS:

Fifty-four studies were analyzed, with 13,784,284 participants, of whom 53,712 had ASD (43,972 boys and 9,740 girls). The overall pooled MFOR was 4.20 (95% CI 3.84-4.60), but there was very substantial between-study variability (I² = 90.9%). High-quality studies had a lower MFOR (3.32; 95% CI 2.88-3.84). Studies that screened the general population to identify participants regardless of whether they already had an ASD diagnosis showed a lower MFOR (3.25; 95% CI 2.93-3.62) than studies that only ascertained participants with a pre-existing ASD diagnosis (MFOR 4.56; 95% CI 4.10-5.07).

CONCLUSION:

Of children meeting criteria for ASD, the true male-to-female ratio is not 4:1, as is often assumed; rather, it is closer to 3:1. There appears to be a diagnostic gender bias, meaning that girls who meet criteria for ASD are at disproportionate risk of not receiving a clinical diagnosis.

Copyright © 2017 American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID: 28545751

DOI: 10.1016/j.jaac.2017.03.013