Patterns of co-morbidity in older people with intellectual disabilities

Aim: This paper reports on an ongoing large-scale Australian study with concurrent comparative assessment of prevalence of various co-morbid health conditions in older people with and without intellectual disabilities (ID). Method: Information was elicited using a structured survey form with multimodal methods of delivery across the two population groups of interest. Study sites included metropolitan and rural regions in New South Wales, Australia. Results: Older people with ID were more likely to have select functional and physical impairments (e.g., depression [28% vs 19%] and falls [37% vs 16%]), but both minimal and notable differences among select age-related diseases or health conditions (e.g., equal rates among cardiovascular disorders and greater rates of arthritis [63.1% vs 47%]). Conclusions: It is important to understand differentials in patterns of co-morbidity by biological and systemic issues as well as ascertain variations in access to health services and other social equity issues in tracking functional and health comorbidities among adults with ID.