A demographic study of polydipsia in an institution for the intellectually disabled.
OBJECTIVE
To measure the prevalence of primary polydipsia in an Ontario institution for residents with developmental disabilities and to explore the associations of polydipsia with age, sex and level of mental retardation.


METHODS
All 798 residents were screened for polydipsia using a behavioural questionnaire completed by caregivers.


RESULTS
Thirty-three cases were detected: the prevalence among the mobile resident population (n = 660) was 5%. We found no association of polydipsia with age, sex, or level of mental retardation.


CONCLUSIONS
Physicians should be aware of polydipsia because it is common among residents with moderate, severe, and profound mental disability. Unless screened for specifically, polydipsia may go unrecognized and may place the residents with mental handicap at risk for serious acute and chronic complications.
Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario.
J
J
Hayfron-Benjamin
C A
CA
Peters
R A
RA
Woodhouse
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004326:Drinking; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D007360:Intelligence; D008297:Male; D009864:Ontario / Q000453:epidemiology; D012112:Residential Facilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012737:Sex Factors; D014869:Water Intoxication / Q000453:epidemiology*