The Influence of Intellectual Disability on Life Expectancy
Alan H. Bittles,Beverly Petterson,Sheena G. Sullivan,Rafat Hussain,Emma J. Glasson,P.D. Montgomery +5 more
TLDR
A study of trends in the survival profiles of people with intellectual disability in Western Australia indicates a major and expanding increase in the service requirements of this aging, intellectually disabled population during the past two generations.Abstract:
Background. To date, relatively few representative data have been available to health planners and advocacy groups on the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability. A study of trends in the survival profiles of people with intellectual disability was undertaken to assist in the planning of appropriate medical and support services.
Methods. Since 1953, the Disability Services Commission of Western Australia has maintained a database of persons diagnosed with intellectual disability. The database was used to calculate survival probabilities on a total of 8724 individuals, 7562 of whom were still alive at the time of sampling in December 2000.
Results. Kaplan-Meier survival plots showed a strong negative association between severity of intellectual disability and survival, with median life expectancies of 74.0, 67.6, and 58.6 years for people with mild, moderate, and severe levels of handicap. Significant negative associations also were observed with male gender, Indigenous Australian parentage, and individuals diagnosed with a specific genetic disorder.
Conclusions. The findings indicate a major and expanding increase in the service requirements of this aging, intellectually disabled population during the past two generations.read more
Citations
More filters
Journal ArticleDOI
A cascade of disparities: health and health care access for people with intellectual disabilities.
TL;DR: Recent conceptualizations that begin to disentangle health from disability are presented, the literature from 1999 to 2005 is summarized, and recommendations for future action and research are provided.
Journal ArticleDOI
The four ages of Down syndrome.
TL;DR: The most common known genetic cause of intellectual disability is Down syndrome (DS) as discussed by the authors, which affects ∼1 per 650-1000 live births and is the most common cause of disability.
Journal ArticleDOI
The changing survival profile of people with Down's syndrome: implications for genetic counselling.
Emma J. Glasson,Sheena G. Sullivan,Rafat Hussain,Beverly Petterson,P.D. Montgomery,Alan H. Bittles +5 more
TL;DR: The substantial increase in survival across the study period means that the life expectancy of people with Down's syndrome is approaching that of the general population, but accompanied by a range of significant mid‐life health problems.
Journal ArticleDOI
A healthier future for all Australians: an overview of the final report of the National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission.
TL;DR: The reform agenda aims to tackle major access and equity issues that affect health outcomes for people now; redesign the health system so that it is better positioned to respond to emerging challenges; and create an agile, responsive and self‐improving health system for long‐term sustainability.
Journal ArticleDOI
Clinical, social, and ethical implications of changing life expectancy in Down syndrome
Alan H. Bittles,Emma J. Glasson +1 more
TL;DR: After improvements in basic public health measures, life expectancy in most developed nations increased over the course of the 20th century, and this trend included people with learning disability, and by the end of that century, the survival estimates for people with mild learning disability living in developed countries was 70 years, and nearly 60 years of age for those with severe learning disability.
References
More filters
Journal Article
A manual on terminology and classification in mental retardation.
TL;DR: Books, as a source that may involve the facts, opinion, literature, religion, and many others are the great friends to join with.
Journal ArticleDOI
The prevalence of mental retardation: a critical review of recent literature.
TL;DR: The aim of this annotation is to establish valid estimates of the true prevalence rates for SMR and AIMR in children of school age and to elucidate the variation in prevalence rates.
Journal ArticleDOI
Mortality and morbidity among older adults with intellectual disability: health services considerations.
TL;DR: It was suggested that clinical practices could be implemented that deter the onset and lessen the impact and burden of older age-related diseases and secondary conditions and that greater attention needs to be given to training of health care professionals in the area of geriatric medicine and intellectual disability.
Journal ArticleDOI
Life expectancy of people with intellectual disability: a 35-year follow-up study.
TL;DR: People with ID now live longer than previously expected, and the ageing of people with mild ID appears to be equal to that of the general population, posing new challenges to health care professionals.