COVID-19 outcomes among people with intellectual and developmental disability living in residential group homes in New York State.
Scott D Landes, Margaret A Turk, Margaret K Formica and 2 others
PMID 32600948WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities living in New York group homes had substantially higher COVID-19 case rates and death rates than the general state population.
The disparity was greatest near New York City, where case-fatality rates also exceeded the state average.
Key findings
01The case rate for people with IDD was 7,841 per 100,000 compared to 1,910 per 100,000 for the general New York State population.
02Mortality rates were markedly higher for people with IDD (1,175 per 100,000) than for the general New York State population (151 per 100,000).
03Case-fatality rates were higher for people with IDD (15.0%) than for the general New York State population (7.9%).
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
Participation by residential providers was voluntary, so the data may not represent all group homes in the state. Testing was not systematic for asymptomatic individuals, so case rates likely reflect symptomatic illness only, which may overestimate case-fatality rates. The study could not adjust for age, sex, or race-ethnicity because this demographic data was not consistently reported during the study period. The study could not determine if the higher infection rates were due to the living situation itself or other factors, as it did not compare group home residents to people with IDD living independently.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest, and the research did not receive specific funding.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume these rates apply to all people with IDD. This study only looked at adults living in congregate residential group homes, a setting with specific risks for transmission that do not apply to people with IDD living independently or with family.