Perfil de sintomas, sociodemográfico, antropométrico e uso de fármacos de crianças e adolescentes com transtorno do espectro do autismo da cidade de Maceió

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a brain neurodevelopmental disorder. The profile of primary symptoms, comorbidities associated with the disorder and the use of drugs seem to make the population with ASD more vulnerable to increased body weight. The aim of the study was to characterize the profile of primary symptoms, sociodemographic, anthropometric and drug use on children and adolescents with ASD in the city of Maceió. The study was conducted from a descriptive cross-section, with 80 participating individuals, average chronological age of 9.7 years and standard deviation of ±3.7 years, assisted by the Physical Education Service (SEF - Serviço de Educação Física) of the Unified Center for Integration and Development of Autism (CUIDA - Centro Unificado de Integração e Desenvolvimento do Autista) in the city of Maceió-Alagoas. Symptom profile characterization instruments were applied, Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autistic Traits Assessment Scale (ATA - Avaliação de Traços Autísticos), sociodemographic profile (questionnaire of the Brazilian Association of Market Research Institutes version 2012), anthropometric profile [evaluation of total body mass (kg), height (m), BMI (kg/m²) and waist circumference (cm)] and identification of drugs from the analysis of clinical records contained in CUIDA. The results were described in terms of average, standard deviation, standard error and 95% confidence interval. No differences were identified either in the prevalence or in the average values of the symptom profile instruments (ATA and CARS) in relation to sociodemographic, anthropometric and use of drugs of research participants. It is concluded that the study met the proposed objectives and demonstrated the importance of characterization of the population with ASD in a specialized assistance context.