Frailty and disability in older adults with intellectual disabilities: results from the healthy ageing and intellectual disability study

OBJECTIVES: To obtain first insight into prevalence and correlates of frailty in older people with intellectual disability (ID).

DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study in persons using formal ID services.

SETTING: Three Dutch care provider services.

PARTICIPANTS: Eight hundred forty-eight individuals with borderline to profound ID aged 50 and older participating in the Healthy Ageing and Intellectual Disability (HA-ID) Study.

MEASUREMENTS: All participants underwent an extensive health examination. Frailty was diagnosed according to Cardiovascular Health Study criteria. Associations between frailty and participant characteristics were investigated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Prevalence of frailty was 11% at age 50 to 64 and 18% at age 65 and older. Age, Down syndrome, dementia, motor disability, and severe ID were significantly associated with frailty, but only motor disability had a unique association with frailty. In a regression model with these variables, 25% of the variance of frailty was explained.

CONCLUSION: At age 50 to 64, prevalence of frailty is as high as in the general population aged 65 and older (7-9%), with a further increase after the age of 65. Motor disability only partially explains frailty. Future studies should address health outcomes, causes, and prevention of frailty in this population.