COVID-19 positivity rates, hospitalizations and mortality of adults with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario, Canada.
Yona Lunsky, Anna Durbin, Rob Balogh and 3 others
PMID 34340949WHAT IT FOUND
Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Ontario were more likely to test positive for COVID-19 than other adults.
Once infected, they were 2.21 times more likely to be hospitalized and 2.23 times more likely to die within 30 days. Risks were highest in younger adults.
Key findings
01Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities had higher rates of positive SARS-CoV-2 tests compared to adults without these disabilities.
02Among those who tested positive, adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities were significantly more likely to be hospitalized and to die within 30 days than those without these disabilities.
03The disparity in mortality risk was most extreme in younger adults, with those under 55 with intellectual and developmental disabilities being 16.77 times more likely to die than their counterparts without these disabilities.
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
The study relied on administrative data, which may misclassify some individuals with IDD as not having the condition, potentially underestimating the true risk. Outcomes were not adjusted for key confounders such as residence type, specific comorbidities, or poverty levels, so the disability itself may not be the sole cause of the disparity. Data captured only approximately 90% of positive cases, and it is unclear if this missed cases differentially across groups. Long-term health consequences occurring more than 30 days after infection were not measured.
Declared interests
ICES is a not-for-profit research institute funded by an annual grant from the Ontario Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Long-Term Care.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume the increased mortality risk is solely due to the biological effects of the disability itself. The study did not adjust for social determinants like living conditions, poverty, or comorbidities, which likely contribute significantly to the worse outcomes observed.