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Health trends from an international sample of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities

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Published/Copyright: December 1, 2010
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International Journal on Disability and Human Development
From the journal Volume 9 Issue 4

Abstract

Background: The aim of this study was to compare the health status data of 4449 adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) aged 40 years and older, from three international sites and identify cross-cultural trends in the prevalence of age-associated organ system morbidities. Study group: Data from samples of older adults with ID in Taiwan, Israel and New York State, United States, collected in three previous studies, were combined for analysis using multivariate logistic regression analyses.

Methods: All data were collected using the Rochester Health Status Survey (RHSS), a survey instrument designed to collect data on demographics, morbidity, and health services usage of adults with ID through chart-review by a medical professional.

Results: Irrespective of site, the likelihood of the presence of auditory problems, gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, infectious disease, eye, musculoskeletal, and respiratory conditions in people with ID increased with age and the likelihood of the presence of dermatological, endocrine, and psychiatric conditions did not increase with age.

Conclusions: Prevalence of organ system diseases with increasing age in people with ID seems to be similar to expected patterns in reference population data for people without ID. The data suggest that it could be useful to increase vigilance, preventive measures, and appropriate screenings for people with ID, similar to efforts that have been incorporated in general practice guidelines. Such efforts may be useful in the delay of onset and/or reduction of the prevalence of some morbidities and secondary disability-related conditions in people with ID. Further studies are needed in these areas.

Keywords: aging; developmental disability; health status; intellectual disability; international; mental retardation
Corresponding author: Laura M. Robinson, MPH, Program in Aging and Developmental Disabilities, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 601 Elmwood Ave., Box 671, Rochester, NY 14642, USA Phone: +1 585 2756604, Fax: +1 585 2753366,
Received: 2010-8-1
Accepted: 2010-9-28
Published Online: 2010-12-01
Published in Print: 2010-12-01

©2010 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

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  1. Editorial
  2. Aging with a disability
  3. Review articles
  4. White matter and oligodendrocyte abnormalities in bipolar disorder
  5. Aging people with intellectual disability in Israel
  6. Original articles
  7. Effects of contralateral extremity manipulation on brain function
  8. Effects of motor sequence training on attentional performance in ADHD children
  9. The effects of parental attitudes on health behaviors of adolescents attending 6th to 8th grades in Turkey
  10. Early identification of adolescents with greater psychosocial needs: an evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong
  11. The impact of modern library services on the rehabilitation of people with disabilities
  12. Qualitative evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: findings based on focus groups
  13. Patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R)
  14. A longitudinal study of institutional downsizing and activity involvement among adults with intellectual disability
  15. Health trends from an international sample of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  16. The relationship of parental bonding to depression in patients with chronic pain
  17. Semantic structure of alcohol and marijuana categories in memory
  18. Case reports
  19. Ergonomic alternating pressure relief seating system for the rehabilitation of patients with decubitus ulcers
  20. Heart rate variability changes induced by auditory stimulation in persistent vegetative state
https://doi.org/10.1515/IJDHD.2010.045
Keywords for this article
aging; developmental disability; health status; intellectual disability; international; mental retardation

Articles in the same Issue

  1. Editorial
  2. Aging with a disability
  3. Review articles
  4. White matter and oligodendrocyte abnormalities in bipolar disorder
  5. Aging people with intellectual disability in Israel
  6. Original articles
  7. Effects of contralateral extremity manipulation on brain function
  8. Effects of motor sequence training on attentional performance in ADHD children
  9. The effects of parental attitudes on health behaviors of adolescents attending 6th to 8th grades in Turkey
  10. Early identification of adolescents with greater psychosocial needs: an evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S. in Hong Kong
  11. The impact of modern library services on the rehabilitation of people with disabilities
  12. Qualitative evaluation of the Project P.A.T.H.S.: findings based on focus groups
  13. Patterns of adaptive performance by individuals with autism spectrum disorders on the Scales of Independent Behavior-Revised (SIB-R)
  14. A longitudinal study of institutional downsizing and activity involvement among adults with intellectual disability
  15. Health trends from an international sample of older adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities
  16. The relationship of parental bonding to depression in patients with chronic pain
  17. Semantic structure of alcohol and marijuana categories in memory
  18. Case reports
  19. Ergonomic alternating pressure relief seating system for the rehabilitation of patients with decubitus ulcers
  20. Heart rate variability changes induced by auditory stimulation in persistent vegetative state
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