Health and Functional Status of Adults with Intellectual Disability Referred to the Specialist Health Care Setting: A Five-Year Experience

Abstract

Aims and Method. The Developmental Disability Database in the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at a metropolitan hospital was audited for observations on adults with Intellectual Disability living in the local region (total population 180,000) who were seen in an identified multidisciplinary specialist clinic, during 2006–2010. Results. There were 162 people (representing half the known number of adults with Intellectual Disability living in the region): 77 females, 85 males, age range 16–86 years. The most common complex disabilities referred to the specialists in this clinic were epilepsy (52%), challenging or changing behavior (42%) and movement disorders (34%). Early onset dementia was a feature of the group (7%). The prevalence of prescription of medications for gastro-oesophageal reflux was high (36%) and similar to the numbers of people taking psychotropic medications. The rates of chronic cardiovascular disease (2%), chronic respiratory disease (10%) and generalised arthritis (11%) were low overall, but did rise with increasing age. Conclusions. Complex neurological disabilities are common, and chronic medical illnesses are uncommon in adults with Intellectual Disability referred to specialist clinicians in this region. A combined, coordinated, multidisciplinary clinic model addresses some of the barriers experienced by adults with Intellectual Disability in the secondary health system.

An audit to evaluate the safety and efficacy of percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy placement in patients with learning disabilities

“…We observed that PEG‐J was required in five patients (12%), although unfortunately it is difficult to predict, even retrospectively, which patients may have benefitted from this at the outset, as functional GI symptoms are relatively common in learning disabilities patients (Lee et al . ). Decisions relating to whether the procedure was performed under GA (in preference to conscious sedation) were made pre‐emptively where possible if prior endoscopy had been technically difficult or where there was concern regarding compliance or respiratory reserve.…”

“…Functional gastrointestinal problems are also relatively frequent in the context of learning disabilities and include gastro‐oesophageal reflux disease which may affect up to 36% (Lee et al . ), constipation and vomiting.…”

Screening for glucose intolerance and development of a lifestyle education programme for prevention of type 2 diabetes in a population with intellectual disabilities: the STOP Diabetes research project

“…Duplicates removed (n = 868) 4 articles reported on same study 2 articles reported on same study 108,115,116,132,138,141 ) and South Africa (n = 2 131,134 ). Primarily, the included studies were cross-sectional observational (n = 31 81,82,98,[100][101][102]104,106,[109][110][111]114,116,119,121,124,[126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135]137,139,142,143,145 ).…”

“…Primarily, the included studies were cross-sectional observational (n = 31 81,82,98,[100][101][102]104,106,[109][110][111]114,116,119,121,124,[126][127][128][129][130][131][132][133][134][135]137,139,142,143,145 ). The remaining studies involved retrospective database or medical records data (n = 22 [83][84][85][86][87][88][89]94,95,99,107,113,115,117,118,120,122,123,136,…”

Prevalence of Falls and Risk Factors in Adults with Intellectual Disability

“…Because of a higher prevalence of health conditions and preexisting conditions, people with intellectual disability also tend to be on multiple medications (Lee et al, 2011). Recently, a systematic review and a meta-analysis study had a consistent conclusion that the medications associated with an increased risk of falling were benzodiazepines (hypnosedatives), antidepressants, and antipsychotics; a weak association was found between anticonvulsants, antihypertensives, and an increased risk of falling (Hartikainen et al, 2007;Woolcott et al, 2009).…”