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Cardiac diseases in people with intellectual disability

M van den Akker1, M A Maaskant, R J M van der Meijden

  • 1Department of General Practice, Maastrict University, Maastricht, the Netherlands. marjan.vandenakker@hag.unimaas.nl

Journal of Intellectual Disability Research : JIDR
|June 16, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Cardiac diseases affect 14% of people with intellectual disabilities (ID), particularly women and the elderly. This prevalence is substantial and expected to rise with an aging ID population.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Intellectual Disability Research
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Individuals with intellectual disabilities (ID) experience higher rates of morbidity compared to the general population.
  • Cardiac diseases represent a significant health concern within this demographic.
  • Limited data exists on the prevalence of cardiac diseases among people with ID in the Netherlands.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of cardiac diseases in residential clients with intellectual disabilities.
  • To compare the prevalence of cardiac diseases based on sex, age, and ID characteristics.
  • To provide Dutch-specific data on cardiac disease burden in people with ID.

Main Methods:

  • A descriptive study was conducted on 436 residential clients in Echt, the Netherlands.
  • Data collection focused on identifying the prevalence of diagnosed cardiac diseases.
  • Statistical comparisons were made between different demographic and clinical subgroups.

Main Results:

  • The overall prevalence of cardiac diseases was found to be 14%.
  • A higher prevalence was observed in women compared to men.
  • The elderly and individuals with mild to moderate ID exhibited increased rates of cardiac diseases.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiac diseases represent a substantial health issue for individuals with ID residing in residential settings.
  • The aging ID population and increasing community integration are projected to escalate cardiac morbidity and mortality.
  • Proactive cardiac health management is crucial for this vulnerable population.
Abstract

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