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Multimodal Protocol for Assessing Metacognition and Self-Regulation in Adults with Learning Difficulties
Published on: September 27, 2020
Learning disability register enrolment in young people in England: a cohort study using primary care data
Rakhee Shah1, Karen Horridge2, Sonia Saxena3
1Mohn Centre for Children's Health and Wellbeing, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Imperial College London, London, UK rakhee.shah@imperial.ac.uk.
Summary
National targets temporarily increased learning disability register enrolment in England. However, identification rates remain low, highlighting the need for sustained focus on proactive care for young people.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Healthcare Management
- Pediatric Health
Background:
- Learning disability registers in UK primary care aim to support proactive care, yet under-identification is a persistent issue.
- The 2019 NHS Long Term Plan set targets to improve the enrolment rates on these registers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To estimate the prevalence and new registration rates for learning disability registers among young people aged 14-24 in England.
- To analyze changes in these rates following the implementation of national identification targets.
Main Methods:
- A population-based open cohort study was conducted using primary care data from England (Clinical Practice Research Datalink Aurum database, 2015-2023).
- Young people aged 14-24 with at least six months of registration were included. Annual new registration rates and recorded prevalence were calculated and stratified.
Main Results:
- Between 2015-2023, 11,776 young people were newly recorded on learning disability registers.
- New registration rates surged in 2020-2021, particularly in younger males, before returning to pre-2019 levels. Recorded prevalence increased significantly in the 18-24 age group.
- Overall prevalence remained low (0.03%-0.5%), with higher rates observed in males.
Conclusions:
- National targets led to a transient increase in learning disability register enrolment but did not resolve the issue of under-identification.
- Sustained policy attention and systematic identification practices are crucial for equitable preventive care access during the transition to adulthood.
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