The Impact of Physical, Intellectual and Social Impairments on Survival in Adults with Intellectual Disability: A Population-Based Register Study

Background Research into factors associated with survival in adults with intellectual disability is limited and no studies have controlled for changes in these factors over time. Matrial and methods All adults aged >= 20 years with moderate to profound intellectual disability (approximate IQ < 50) using specialist services in Leicestershire and Rutland, UK, were identified. The relationship between survival and physical, intellectual and social impairments was investigated, also adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity and exact year of birth. Results Of 2453 adults studied, 402 (16%) died over a maximum follow-up period of 19 years. While physical, intellectual and social impairments were all associated with survival individually, physical impairment was the only impairment to significantly predict survival in the multi-variable analysis. Being non-mobile was associated with a sevenfold increased risk of death and being partially mobile with a twofold increased risk of death compared with being fully mobile [adjusted hazards ratios (HR) = 7.14; 95% confidence interval (CI) 4.99-10.21 and HR = 2.33; 95% CI 1.84-2.95]. Being male and earlier year of birth were also associated with shorter survival. Conclusions The implications of these findings are discussed.