Health checks of adults with intellectual disability

In line with national guidelines, adjustment needs to be made to ensure annual health checks, more physiotherapy and better coordination of services for adults with intellectual disabilities.

Background: People with intellectual disabilities have more health problems and difficulties in accessing health services compared to the general population. Annual health checks can reveal illnesses and are therefore recommended by the Norwegian health authorities and by international guidelines. So far, no previous research has investigated how health checks and follow-ups are performed for adults with intellectual disabilities in Norway.

Aim: To investigate health conditions, perceived health and completion of health checks in a Norwegian population of adults with intellectual disabilities.

Methods: A community based, cross-sectional multicenter survey with the use of the internationally developed POMONA health indicators. The municipalities of Tromsø, Narvik, Balsfjord, Malvik and parts of Trondheim participated in the survey. The same physical performance tests that have been used in a large population study in North Norway (the Tromsø study), were used in the study population in the municipality of Tromsø.

Results: The sample consisted of 214 adults between 16-78 years (mean age 36.1). Most of the participants reported their health as good or very good. More women than men reported poor health. Multimorbidity was common, and the pattern of disease was varying depending on the level of intellectual disability. Health checks were not performed in 43% and even less in adults with severe intellectual disability compared to those with mild intellectual disability. The test results of the physical performance tests of walking and balance were similar to reference values of an 80-year-old general population. Fewer participants (18%) than in comparable studies had seen a physiotherapist. Only 13% had a functioning individual plan, which is a statutory right in individuals in need of long-term services in need of coordination.

Conclusions: Annual health checks for adults with intellectual disabilities are important because it can detect and prevent health problems. Health follow-ups should be well planned and organized by interdisciplinary teams and adjusted to the needs of the individual with an intellectual disability. According to national guidelines, general practitioners are the ones responsible for the annual health checks.