Older Dutch residents of institutions, with and without down syndrome: Comparisons of mortality and morbidity trends and motor/social functioning

Abstract

This Dutch study was designed to examine the co-incidence of age-associated mortality and morbidity among select groups of older persons with mental handicap. One finding was that the mortality pattern for residents with and without Down syndrome was quite different and that the mortality rates are much higher at age 40 and older compared with other residents. With regard to overall morbidity, it was found that elderly persons were more frequently diagnosed by their physician as having: deafness, myocardial infarction, pulmonary emphysema, chronic non-specific lung disease, fractures (with functional handicaps), arthrosis, osteoporosis, abnormal curvature of the spine, prostate enlargement, diabetes mellitus, dementia, and other mental disorders (except depression). Further, older persons (50+ years) were found to experience a significant decrease in motor functioning, mobility, linguistic skills and in activities needed for daily living.