COVID-19 case-fatality disparities among people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: Evidence from 12 US jurisdictions.
Scott D Landes, Margaret A Turk, David A Ervin
PMID 34039516WHAT IT FOUND
Case-fatality rates were significantly higher for people with intellectual disabilities in residential settings than the general population.
Results were mixed for those living at home, with rates sometimes higher, similar, or lower than the state average.
Key findings
01People with intellectual and developmental disabilities in residential settings had case-fatality rates 1.5 to 4.8 times higher than the general population, which was statistically significant.
02Case-fatality rates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities in skilled nursing facilities were 3.3 to 8.6 times higher than the state average.
03For people living in their own or a family home, results were mixed: three instances showed significantly higher rates, four showed no significant difference, and one showed a lower rate.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they found
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What it does not show
The study only includes data from 12 jurisdictions, so it cannot determine outcomes for people with IDD in the other 39 US jurisdictions. Reporting definitions varied widely across states, so settings with similar names may not have provided the same type or intensity of care. The data did not include age, sex, or racial-ethnic information, which could explain some of the observed differences. For people living at home, the data did not specify the level of personal or medical support they received, making it difficult to understand why outcomes varied. The data did not confirm how cases were identified or how causes of death were determined.
Declared interests
None declared. The work was supported by a National Institute on Aging Center Grant.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that living at home protects people with intellectual disabilities from higher COVID-19 mortality. While some home-based groups had lower or similar rates, others had case-fatality rates up to 6.1 times higher than the general population, depending on the jurisdiction and specific service model.