Characteristics and treatment patterns of autism spectrum disorder in China, 2020

•The treatment patterns of ASDs among Chinese children is currently unknown.•This study is the first to report empirical results of the characteristics and treatment patterns of ASD, based on a nationwide autism investigation covering the largest sample of ASD cases in China.•We found a higher proportion of autistic children in families with highly educated parents, advanced parental age at childbirth, and a family history of mental disorders or intellectual disorders.•Higher odds of non-treatment were found among children who were male and had ASD diagnosed later on.