Disparities in Age and Biological Sex Mortality Trends between Adults with/without Intellectual Disability

• In Event: 3129 - Section on Medical Sociology Refereed Roundtables (1 hour)
  In Refereed Roundtable 60min: Table 21. Lifecourse Events and Health

Abstract

Background: Historically, individuals with intellectual disability have experienced severe marginalization within US society. The negative implications of this social disadvantage extend into mortality trends for this population, which are often marked by decreased longevity and higher mortality rates from preventive causes of death. In an effort to understand and begin the process of addressing this disadvantage, this study compares age and biological sex stratified causes of death for adults with and without intellectual disability to highlight anomalous mortality trends among adults with intellectual disability.

Methods: We used data from the National Vital Statistics System 2012-2016 U.S. Multiple Cause-of-Death Mortality files to compare mean and median age at death, and standardized mortality odds ratios (SMORs) for 20 leading causes of death for adults with and without intellectual disability.

Findings: There were 9,478 decedents with and 13,050,405 without intellectual disability in the U.S. between 2012 and 2016. Average age at death was 60.87 years for females with intellectual disability; 77.40 years for females without intellectual disability; 58.99 years for males with intellectual disability; 70.90 years for males without intellectual disability. The most distinct disparities in cause of death among adults with intellectual disability were higher SMORs for pneumonitis due to solids or liquids, choking, and seizure disorders; and lower SMORs for neoplasms, and accidents.

Interpretation: Preventive care and public health efforts aimed at reducing premature mortality for this population should be cognizant of increased risk factors for choking related disorders and seizures, as well as age and biological sex variation in mortality trends. Further research is needed to discern whether intellectual disability is a protective factor for deaths from neoplasms and accidents, and to understand the more pronounced odds ratios for males with intellectual disability in the earlier part of the adult life course.

Authors

• Scott D. Landes, Syracuse University

• James Dalton Stevens, Syracuse University

• Margaret A. Turk, SUNY Upstate Medical Center