Physical co-morbidity in adults with intellectual disabilities

Background Research into intellectual disability (ID) has traditionally focused on children and young people. Over the past decades, the average life expectancy of people with IDs has, however, increased.

Method In this cross-sectional study, we surveyed the somatic health of adults with IDs. We compared the results to the prevalence of common diseases in the general population as reported in the Finnish Current Care Guidelines.

Results In the study group, epilepsy, hypothyroidism, dementias, and underweight (BMJ<18.5) were many-fold overrepresented, while hypertension and lipid metabolism disorders, COPD, and gout were underrepresented. Only two of the 471 study subjects had cancer. Migraine diagnoses were also few. Type 2 diabetes, asthma and allergies, celiac disease, rheumatoid arthritis, COPD, gout, and sleep apnea were as common in the study group as in the general population.

Conclusion The health of adults with IDs is characterized by different disorders than those affecting the general population.

Maria Arvio, Lauri Koskinen, Markku Nyman, Tommi Salokivi, Risto Kuronen