MMR vaccination and autism, again
yet another study on the relationship (or lack thereof) between MMR vaccination and autism. i bring this up since this is a large study but includes kids at higher risk of autism ( see vaccine MMR and autism JAMA 2015 in dr opbox, or JAMA. 2015;313(15):1534-1540 ). this is a retrospective cohort study from a large health insurer (Optum) database, using claims data (the insurer is mostly in the south and midwest of the US, though does have people in all regions. 75% white, 9% Hispanic, 3.5% black and 3.5% Asian). details: --95,727 kids who had older siblings. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) was defined as 2 claims with a diagnosis of autistic disorder or pervasive developmental disorder, including Asperger. all kids were continuously enrolled in the health plan from birth to age 5 during 2001-2012. -- 944 (1.04%) were diagnosed with ASD. 1929 had an older sibling with ASD, of which 134 (6.9%) were diagnosed with A...