health
People with severe intellectual disabilities live 24 years less on average
Exclusive: Research also finds stark ethnic disparities, and 40% of deaths among group classed as avoidable
TL;DR
- People with severe intellectual disabilities die 24 years younger on average (age 58) compared to the general population (age 82).
- 40% of deaths among individuals with severe or profound intellectual disabilities are considered avoidable.
- Minority ethnic groups within the severe intellectual disability population die 14 years younger than their white peers.
- Pneumonia and epilepsy are identified as leading causes of avoidable deaths in this group.
- Organizational failings in healthcare are implicated in over 40% of reviewed deaths.
- The study calls for targeted interventions like annual health checks, vaccinations, and timely management of conditions, with a focus on ethnic minority individuals.