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BACKGROUND: Prolonged delays between first caregiver concern and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) diagnosis have been reported, but associations between length of time to diagnosis (TTD) and health care resource utilization (HCRU) and costs have not been studied in a large sample of children with ASD. OBJECTIVE: To address these informational gaps in the ASD diagnostic pathway. METHODS: This retrospective, observational, single cohort analysis of Optums administrative claims data from January 1, 2011, to December 31, 2020, included commercially insured children who had 2 or more claims for an ASD diagnosis (earliest diagnosis designated as the index date), were between the ages of older than 1.5 years and 6 years or younger at index date, and were continuously enrolled for up to 48 months before and for 12 months after the index date. Two cohorts (between the ages of older than 1.5 years and 3 years or younger and between the ages of older than 3 years and 6 years or younger at ASD diagnosis) were divided into shorter (less than median) and longer (greater than or equal to median) TTD around each cohort median TTD calculated from the first documented ASD-related concern to the earliest ASD diagnosis, because TTD may vary by age at diagnosis. This exploratory analysis compared all-cause and ASD-related HCRU and costs during a 12-month period preceding ASD diagnosis among children with shorter vs longer TTD. RESULTS: 8,954 children met selection criteria: 4,205 aged 3 years or younger and 4,749 aged older than 3 years at diagnosis, with median TTD of 9.5 and 22.1 months, respectively. In the year preceding ASD diagnosis, children with longer TTD in both age cohorts experienced a greater number of all-cause and ASD-related health care visits compared with those with shorter TTD (mean and median number of office or home visits were approximately 1.5- and 2-fold greater in longer vs shorter TTD groups; P < 0.0001). The mean all-cause medical cost per child in the year preceding ASD diagnosis was approximately 2-fold higher for those with longer vs shorter TTD ($5,268 vs $2,525 in the younger and $5,570 vs $2,265 in the older cohort; P < 0.0001 for both). Mean ASD-related costs were also higher across age cohorts for those with longer vs shorter TTD ($2,355 vs $859 in the younger and $2,351 vs $1,144 in the older cohort; P < 0.0001 for both). CONCLUSIONS: In the year prior to diagnosis, children with longer TTD experienced more frequent health care visits and greater cost burden in their diagnostic journey compared with children with shorter TTD. Novel diagnostic approaches that could accelerate TTD may reduce costs and HCRU for commercially insured children. DISCLOSURES: This study was funded by Cognoa, Inc. Optum received funding from Cognoa to conduct this study. Dr Salomon is an employee and holds stock options of Cognoa, Inc. Dr Campbell was an employee of Cognoa, Inc., at the time this study was conducted. Dr Duhig was an employee of Cognoa, Inc., at the time the study was conducted and holds stock options. Dr Vu, Ms Kruse, Mr Gaur, and Ms Gupta are employees and/or stockholders of Optum. Dr Tibrewal was an employee of Optum at the time the research for this study was conducted. Dr Taraman is an employee and holds stock options of Cognoa, Inc., receives consulting fees from Cognito Therapeutics, volunteers as a board member of the American Academy of Pediatrics California and Orange County Chapter, is a paid advisor for MI10 LLC, and owns stock options of NTX, Inc., and HandzIn.

AbstractTechnological breakthroughs, together with the rapid growth of medical information and improved data connectivity, are creating dramatic shifts in the health care landscape, including the field of developmental and behavioral pediatrics. While medical information took an estimated 50 years to double in 1950, by 2020, it was projected to double every 73 days. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered health technologies, once considered theoretical or research-exclusive concepts, are increasingly being granted regulatory approval and integrated into clinical care. In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration has cleared or approved over 160 health-related AI-based devices to date. These trends are only likely to accelerate as economic investment in AI health care outstrips investment in other sectors. The exponential increase in peer-reviewed AI-focused health care publications year over year highlights the speed of growth in this sector. As health care moves toward an era of intelligent technology powered by rich medical information, pediatricians will increasingly be asked to engage with tools and systems underpinned by AI. However, medical students and practicing clinicians receive insufficient training and lack preparedness for transitioning into a more AI-informed future. This article provides a brief primer on AI in health care. Underlying AI principles and key performance metrics are described, and the clinical potential of AI-driven technology together with potential pitfalls is explored within the developmental and behavioral pediatric health context.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared.