Association of Intellectual Disability with Delayed Presentation and Worse Outcomes in Emergency General Surgery

To examine the association between intellectual disability and both severity of disease and clinical outcomes among patients presenting with common emergency general surgery (EGS) conditions.

Accurate and timely diagnosis of EGS conditions is crucial for optimal management and patient outcomes. Individuals with intellectual disabilities may be at increased risk of delayed presentation and worse outcomes for EGS; however, little is known about surgical outcomes in this population.

Using the 2012-2017 Nationwide Inpatient Sample, we conducted a retrospective cohort analysis of adult patients admitted for 9 common EGS conditions. We performed multivariable logistic and linear regression to examine the association between intellectual disability and the following outcomes: EGS disease severity at presentation, any surgery, complications, mortality, length of stay, discharge disposition, and inpatient costs. Analyses were adjusted for patient demographics and facility traits.

Of 1,317,572 adult EGS admissions, 5,062 (0.38%) patients had a concurrent ICD-9/-10 code consistent with intellectual disability. EGS patients with intellectual disabilities had 31% higher odds of more severe disease at presentation compared with neurotypical patients (aOR 1.31; 95% CI 1.17-1.48). Intellectual disability was also associated with a higher rate of complications and mortality, longer lengths of stay, lower rate of discharge to home, and higher inpatient costs.

EGS patients with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of more severe presentation and worse outcomes. The underlying causes of delayed presentation and worse outcomes must be better characterized to address the disparities in surgical care for this often under-recognized but highly vulnerable population.