A recent study delved into the prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions among individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (IDD), marking a crucial step in understanding the impact of COVID-19 on this vulnerable population. The study highlights a concerning discrepancy, indicating that individuals with IDD may face a greater risk of developing post-COVID-19 conditions following SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to the general population.
This study was published in the journal BMC Medicine by Ting-Hui Liu and colleagues. The study aimed to investigate post-COVID-19 conditions in individuals with IDD and compare their risk with the general population. Using the TriNetX network, patients with and without IDD who had contracted COVID-19 were identified. The prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions during the 90–180-day follow-up after SARS-CoV-2 infection was then compared between the two groups.

Results revealed a significantly higher prevalence of post-COVID-19 conditions among patients with IDD compared to the general population. Individuals with IDD who survived COVID-19 were found to have an elevated risk of various post-COVID conditions compared to non-IDD individuals. These conditions included abnormal breathing, abdominal symptoms, fatigue, anxiety/depression, cognitive symptoms, myalgia, sleep disturbances, and cough.

Understanding this heightened risk is crucial for healthcare planning and management, emphasizing the need for targeted care strategies to support individuals with IDD post-COVID-19 infection. The findings underscore the heightened vulnerability of individuals with IDD to post-COVID-19 conditions. This study not only sheds light on this overlooked aspect but also emphasizes the necessity for tailored healthcare interventions and support for this at-risk population in the aftermath of COVID-19.
Reference:
Liu, T.-H., Huang, P.-Y., Wu, J.-Y., Chuang, M.-H., Hsu, W.-H., Tsai, Y.-W., Kao, P.-H., & Lai, C.-C. Post-COVID-19 condition risk in patients with intellectual and developmental disabilities: a retrospective cohort study involving 36,308 patients. BMC Medicine,2023;21(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-023-03216-8