Prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in older people with intellectual disability.
The prevalence and correlates of cardiovascular risk factors in older adults with intellectual disability was examined. We conducted a cross-sectional study with 50- to 90-year-old clients (N = 470) of three Dutch intellectual disability care providing organizations and found that healthy behavior was low, with 98.9% of the participants having an unhealthy diet and 68.3%, a lack of exercise. Smoking (13.6%) and alcohol abuse (0.3%) were relatively minor problems. Abdominal overweight (70.4%), diabetes (8.7%), hypertension (36.8%), and hypercholesterolemia (31.8%) were highly prevalent. These profiles have important implications in determining the risk of cardiovascular disease in people with intellectual disability. Campaigns to promote health should be focused on education and the introduction of preventive screening programs.
Bartiméus , Organization for People With Vision Impariment and Intellectual Disability, Doorn, Netherlands.
Channa F
CF
de Winter
Karla W
KW
Magilsen
J Claudia
JC
van Alfen
Corine
C
Penning
Heleen M
HM
Evenhuis
D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D050177:Overweight / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology