Life expectancy of people with intellectual disability: a retrospective cohort study from New South Wales, Australia

To comprehensively analyse the life expectancy at birth of people with intellectual disability, including people with Down syndrome, to inform health equity and service planning.

Retrospective cohort study.

Residents of New South Wales (NSW), Australia, with intellectual disability from birth onwards between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2018.

Our study sample comprised 100 089 individuals with intellectual disability in the dataset, spanning from birth onwards, between 1 January 2001 and 31 December 2018.

All cause mortality. Life expectancy was estimated using ordinary and abridged life table methods, based on age-specific population count, and compared with the general NSW population.

Life expectancy at birth of people with intellectual disability was 67 years, 16 years shorter than the NSW average. Males and females with intellectual disability had a similar life expectancy. Individuals with Down syndrome had a life expectancy of 54 years, significantly shorter than those without Down syndrome. The life expectancy gap for people with intellectual disability narrowed with increasing age.

People with intellectual disability in Australia experience a substantial life expectancy gap, with greater disparities for those with Down syndrome. These findings underscore the need for targeted health and social interventions to address systemic inequities and improve health outcomes across the lifespan.