Abstract
As the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability (ID) has progressed, they have become similarly at risk of cancer as individuals of the general population. Epidemiological studies indicate a reduced incidence and mortality from lung cancer in the total population of persons with ID. However, the pattern is heterogeneous and the risk is strongly correlated with the impairment level; persons with mild intellectual impairment have higher cancer risk, and this subgroup also has the highest tobacco consumption (the major risk factor for lung cancer) compared to individuals with more severe impairment. Clinical presentation of lung cancer in persons with ID is often atypical, with symptoms frequently hidden by the mental state and communication impairments. Treatment can be impeded by incomplete understanding and lack of cooperation on the part of the patient; nevertheless, general principles for treating lung cancer must be applied to persons with ID. Early diagnosis and implementation of an adapted treatment plan may result in lung cancer outcomes similar to those of individuals in the general population. Physicians facing the difficult task of treating lung cancer in persons with ID are called to carry out their mission of care in a responsible, free, and creative way.
Highlights
As the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability has increased over the last few decades [1], they have become more exposed to cancer risk [2]
The reduced frequency of lung cancer observed in individuals with these genetic conditions may, in part, explain the lower incidence of lung tumors observed in the entire population of persons with intellectual disability (ID)
Lung cancer appears to be less frequent in persons with ID compared to the general population, based on available literature
Summary
As the life expectancy of people with intellectual disability (persons with ID) has increased over the last few decades [1], they have become more exposed to cancer risk [2]. Persons with ID are reported to have a nearly similar risk of developing cancer as individuals in the general population [4, 5]. Tumors among this subpopulation are poorly known and differ in frequency from those in the general population [1, 4, 5]. The present article focuses on the frequency of lung cancer in persons with ID, its diagnosis, and potential treatment difficulties, seeking to help improve overall clinical care of this important population
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