Mortality among individuals with mental retardation living in the community.
Mortality in a population of more than 1,300 people with mental retardation who live in the community was studied utilizing a case-by-case review and sentinel health event methodology. Death was noted in 14 people over a 4-year period. Cause of death was identified as avoidable (3 patients), potentially avoidable (3), unavoidable (3), sudden unexplained death with a history of epilepsy (3), or other unexplained deaths (2). Factors influencing mortality and the delivery of health care services were described. The sentinel health event methodology and case-by-case mortality reviews are recommended for monitoring avoidable deaths in community residential settings for people with mental retardation.
Center for Human Development (60), Morristown Memorial Hospital, NJ 07962-1956.
T
T
Kastner
R
R
Nathanson
D L
DL
Friedman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002423:Cause of Death; D002648:Child; D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D015897:Comorbidity; D003645:Death, Sudden / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology; D005190:Family; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D012947:Social Work; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology