Health problems of people with intellectual disabilities: the impact for general practice.
This study aimed to analyse the health problems and prescriptions of people with intellectual disabilities registered with GPs. Within the Second Dutch National Survey of General Practice evidence was gathered on the differences in health problems between people with intellectual disabilities and control persons (without intellectual disabilities). In a 1:5 matched sample, people with intellectual disabilities paid 1.7 times more visits to GPs. They presented a different morbidity pattern, and received four times as many repeat prescriptions. People with intellectual disabilities increase a GP's workload.
Straetmans
Jos M J A A
JM
Department of General Practice, and Care and Public Health Research Institute (Caphri), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands. henny.lantman@hag.unimass.nl
van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk
Henny M J
HM
Schellevis
Francois G
FG
Dinant
Geert-Jan
GJ
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D011307:Drug Prescriptions / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005194:Family Practice; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy; D009426:Netherlands; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data