Background:
Rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has
affected people with intellectual disability disproportionately.
Existing data does not provide enough information to understand
factors associated with increased deaths in those with intellectual disability. Establishing who is at high risk is important in
developing ...
Background:
Rapid spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has
affected people with intellectual disability disproportionately.
Existing data does not provide enough information to understand
factors associated with increased deaths in those with intellectual disability. Establishing who is at high risk is important in
developing prevention strategies, given risk factors or
comorbidities in people with intellectual disability may be different to those in the general population.
Aims:
To identify comorbidities, demographic and clinical factors of
those individuals with intellectual disability who have died from
COVID-19.
Method:
An observational descriptive case series looking at deaths
because of COVID-19 in people with intellectual disability was
conducted. Along with established risk factors observed in the
general population, possible specific risk factors and comorbidities in people with intellectual disability for deaths related to
COVID-19 were examined. Comparisons between mild and
moderate-to-profound intellectual disability subcohorts were
undertaken.
Results:
Data on 66 deaths in individuals with intellectual disability were
analysed. This group was younger (mean age 64 years)
compared with the age of death in the general population
because of COVID-19. High rates of moderate-to-profound
intellectual disability (n = 43), epilepsy (n = 29), mental illness (n =
29), dysphagia (n = 23), Down syndrome (n = 20) and dementia
(n = 15) were observed.
Conclusions:
This is the first study exploring associations between possible
risk factors and comorbidities found in COVID-19 deaths in
people with intellectual disability. Our data provides insight into
possible factors for deaths in people with intellectual disability.
Some of the factors varied between the mild and moderate-toprofound intellectual disability groups. This highlights an urgent
need for further systemic inquiry and study of the possible
cumulative impact of these factors and comorbidities given the
possibility of COVID-19 resurgence.
