title: Prevalence of reported physical health problems in people with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities: a cross-sectional study of medical records and care plans.
abstract: People with severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities (SPIMD) experience numerous serious physical health problems and comorbidities. Knowledge regarding the prevalence of these problems is needed in order to detect and treat them at an early stage. Data concerning these problems in individuals with SPIMD are limited. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of reported physical health problems in adults with SPIMD through a review of medical records and care plans.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional study employing data obtained from medical and support records. A sample of adults with SPIMD was recruited in eight residential care settings. Physical health problems that had occurred during the previous 12 months or were chronic were recorded.
  
  
  
  The records of 99 participants were included. A wide range of physical health problems were found with a mean of 12 problems per person. Very high prevalence rates (>50%) were found for constipation, visual impairment, epilepsy, spasticity, deformations, incontinence and reflux.
  
  
  
  The results suggest that people with SPIMD simultaneously experience numerous, serious physical health problems. The reliance on reported problems may cause an underestimation of the prevalence of health problems with less visible signs and symptoms such as osteoporosis and thyroid dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands. e.a.van.timmeren@pl.hanze.nl.
authors.forename: E A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: van Timmeren
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Behavioural and Social Sciences, Department of Special Needs Education and Youth Care, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A A J
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: van der Putten
authors.affiliation: Department of Primary and Community Health Care, Radboud University Medical Centre, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: H M J
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: van Schrojenstein Lantman-de Valk
authors.affiliation: Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Rehabilitation, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: van der Schans
authors.affiliation: Research Group Healthy Ageing, Allied Health Care and Nursing, Hanze University of Applied Sciences, Groningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Waninge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000068079:Motor Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012720:Severity of Illness Index
keywords: intellectual disabilities; physical health; profound intellectual and multiple disabilities; severe or profound intellectual and motor disabilities