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Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Cancer Symptom Severity: A Matched Retrospective Cohort Study
Rachel Giblon1, Rinku Sutradhar1,2, Julie Hallet2,3,4
1Division of Biostatistics, University of Toronto Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, Canada.
Psycho-Oncology
|June 5, 2025
Summary
Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) experience more severe cancer symptoms, including anxiety and depression. This highlights the need for specialized care and support services for this population.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Disability Studies
- Health Services Research
Background:
- Individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities (IDD) face higher cancer risks and disparities in cancer care.
- Limited research exists on cancer symptom experiences in individuals with IDD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate differences in cancer symptomology between individuals with and without IDD.
- To compare the severity and types of cancer symptoms reported by patients with and without IDD.
Main Methods:
- A matched retrospective study of 873 cancer patients with and without IDD in Ontario, Canada.
- Utilized administrative health data and the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale-revised (ESAS-r) for symptom screening.
- Employed 1:1 hard matching and conditional logistic regression to compare symptom severity.
Main Results:
- Individuals with IDD reported significantly higher odds of severe cancer-related symptoms, including anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue.
- Anxiety (OR: 2.20) and depression (OR: 2.16) showed the largest effect magnitudes.
- Similar trends were found for moderate to severe symptoms compared to mild or no symptoms.
Conclusions:
- Cancer patients with IDD report greater symptom severity than those without IDD.
- Emphasizes the critical need for tailored interventions and support services for individuals with IDD and cancer.
- Addressing unique needs can help alleviate symptom burden and improve care quality.
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