People with intellectual disabilities are more likely to die from the coronavirus than the rest of the population. This is the conclusion of researchers at Radboudumc. The scientists hope that the research will draw attention to the vulnerability of people with intellectual disabilities.
The researchers compared the first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic with the five years before the pandemic to determine how large the differences in mortality were between the group of people with and without intellectual disabilities. Which showed that there is more than four times higher mortality from COVID in people with intellectual disabilities than in the rest of the population.
Higher risks
People with an intellectual disability generally already have a higher risk of dying than the rest of the population, but this has risen considerably during the pandemic, says epidemiologist and researcher at Radboud university medical center Maarten Cuypers. That has a number of causes. ‘The cause of the disability is often also the cause of physical problems, which makes them physically more vulnerable. When they get corona, their immune system reacts less to it than in physically healthy people.’
In addition, people with an intellectual disability also have a greater chance of contracting the virus, says Cuypers. ‘This group often needs a lot of guidance and care. They live in supervised care groups or go to daytime activities. All these different contacts provide an enormous number of infection routes.’ In addition, because of the intellectual disability, it is difficult for this group to comply with the measures. ‘Just explain to someone with an intellectual disability why and when he or she should wear a face mask.’
More cancer deaths
The higher mortality due to corona cannot fully explain the increase in overall mortality. Deaths from cancer, brain and nervous system disorders and external causes (such as a fall) have also increased more during the pandemic among people with intellectual disabilities than among the rest of the population.
According to Cuypers, this is partly due to the lack of specific knowledge. ‘For example, diabetes often occurs in people with an intellectual disability, and a corona infection can exacerbate those complaints enormously. This does not have to be the case for diabetic patients without an intellectual disability. Additional health risks such as these are not always known to healthcare providers.’
Lack of care
In addition, in times of crisis, less regular care is available, which automatically affects the vulnerable more. ‘People were also reluctant to go to the GP because of the risk of infection. Physical deterioration is then not noticed in time, which can lead to more serious complications.’ Cuypers also saw this during the flu epidemic in 2017-2018. ‘There were larger death numbers due to the flu itself, but external factors also played a role.’
‘We can’t remove vulnerability’
Cuypers hopes that the research will contribute to attention for the vulnerability of people with an intellectual disability. Both in clinical practice and in public health policy. We can’t take away vulnerability. The virus is there and we cannot completely prevent the infection routes.’
According to the researcher, it is therefore important that people are aware of the health risks of this group, in order to be able to respond better to their different needs for care. ‘In addition, it is important that this group is better monitored. After all, it is difficult to make policy, taking into account a vulnerable group, when that group is hardly in sight.’
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