Mortality of people with intellectual disability in northern Sydney

Abstract

A population-derived cohort of 693 people with intellectual disability in the Lower North Shore (LNS) area of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia was followed from 1989 to 1999 to determine mortality rates, the demographics of the deceased, and causes of death. The deceased were identified through the New South Wales Registrar of Births, Deaths and Marriages. The general population of LNS was used for comparison. Age- and sex-adjusted mortality rates were higher than those in the LNS population. The overall standardised mortality ratio (SMR) was 4.9, while the SMRs for men and women were 4.1 and 6.2, respectively. The death rates were highest at both ends of the age spectrum. The main cause of death was respiratory disease, followed by external causes and cancer. Of those who had died, the greatest proportion were functioning in the severe to profound range of intellectual disability, and half were living in institutional care. Public health resources and services need to be directed to this vulnerable population in order to address the excess mortality.