Nearly Half of Recorded Deaths Among Adults With Intellectual Disabilities Were Potentially Avoidable

People with intellectual disabilities may face additional health challenges because of communication barriers, difficulties accessing medical services and delayed recognition of symptoms. These barriers can affect the prevention and treatment of both physical and mental-health conditions.

Researchers analysed mortality data from England covering 2016 to 2023. The study included 3,381 adults with Down syndrome, 15,347 adults with other intellectual disabilities and more than four million people from the general population.

The researchers found that 47% of deaths among adults with Down syndrome and 44.9% among adults with other intellectual disabilities were classified as avoidable. The corresponding proportion in the general population was 22%.

Epilepsy and pneumonia were among the leading treatable causes of death in the intellectual-disability groups. The researchers also identified socioeconomic deprivation, certain health conditions and unequal access to preventive care as factors associated with avoidable mortality.

The findings underline the importance of accessible healthcare, regular health reviews, timely epilepsy assessment, vaccination and early treatment of respiratory infections.

Although the research focuses on avoidable mortality rather than psychiatric illness alone, it has important implications for mental-health and disability-support services.