title: Secondary conditions in people with developmental disability.
abstract: The authors investigated secondary conditions in people with developmental disabilities in terms of (a) the average number of conditions experienced and overall health and independence, (b) their degree and nature, and (c) gender differences. Information was obtained by a questionnaire completed by the caregivers for 659 people with developmental disabilities. Participants experienced an average of 11.3 secondary conditions. Secondary conditions causing significant limitations were reading difficulties, communication, physical fitness-conditioning, personal hygiene-appearance, weight, dental and oral hygiene, and memory problems. Some gender differences emerged in overall health scores and limitations due to secondary conditions.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia. stella.koritsas@monash.edu
authors.forename: Stella
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Koritsas
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iacono
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002547:Cerebral Palsy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D015897:Comorbidity; D002658:Developmental Disabilities / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D004410:Dyslexia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D009910:Oral Hygiene; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016135:Spinal Dysraphism / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires