biostudies-literatureO'Nions EUKRI Medical Research CouncilNational Institute for Health Research (NIHR)Vivensa FoundationNational Institute for Health and Care Research100776https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC10769892biostudies-literatureUnknown36<h4>Background</h4>Previous research has shown that people who have been diagnosed autistic are more likely to die prematurely than the general population. However, statistics on premature mortality in autistic people have often been misinterpreted. In this study we aimed to estimate the life expectancy and years of life lost experienced by autistic people living in the UK.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied people in the IQVIA Medical Research Database with an autism diagnosis between January 1, 1989 and January 16, 2019. For each participant diagnosed autistic, we included ten comparison participants without an autism diagnosis, matched by age, sex, and primary care practice. We calculated age- and sex-standardised mortality ratios comparing people diagnosed autistic to the reference group. We usThe Lancet regional health. EuropeEstimating life expectancy and years of life lost for autistic people in the UK: a matched cohort study.PMC10769892NIHR301988NIHR205009RPGF1910/191NIHR130914Lewer DEl Baou CPetersen ISaunders RMandy WRichards MO'Nions EBuckman JEJManthorpe JCharlton RStott JBrown JHappe FZanker CCooper CMcKechnie DGJfalseEstimating life expectancy and years of life lost for autistic people in the UK: a matched cohort study.<h4>Background</h4>Previous research has shown that people who have been diagnosed autistic are more likely to die prematurely than the general population. However, statistics on premature mortality in autistic people have often been misinterpreted. In this study we aimed to estimate the life expectancy and years of life lost experienced by autistic people living in the UK.<h4>Methods</h4>We studied people in the IQVIA Medical Research Database with an autism diagnosis between January 1, 1989 and January 16, 2019. For each participant diagnosed autistic, we included ten comparison participants without an autism diagnosis, matched by age, sex, and primary care practice. We calculated age- and sex-standardised mortality ratios comparing people diagnosed autistic to the reference group. We us2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Jan2026-06-03T12:40:06.768Z2025-04-07T06:28:14.058ZS-EPMC107698923818827610.1016/j.lanepe.2023.100776