YOUNG adults with learning difficulties in Scotland are nine times more likely to die from treatable causes, a new study has found.
The University of Glasgow published a study that found that adults of all ages with learning disabilities are three times more likely to die prematurely compared with the general population.
Led by the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory, researchers examined records of more than 14,000 adults aged over 25 with learning disabilities and found that people with learning disabilities in Scotland die 20 years younger than the general population on average.
Responding, Scottish Greens spokesperson for health Gillian Mackay MSP said: “Nobody should face barriers to healthcare, but we know these barriers do exist and must be broken down.
“It saddens me to hear that there are young people with additional needs who have lost their lives to avoidable and treatable causes if only they had received regular check-ups and care, and my heart is with their loved ones who carry their loss knowing this.”
She continued: “This shows where we must do better to provide a proactive healthcare service for those with additional needs and offer a service that reaches out to check in, rather than awaiting an incoming call for a check-up. It is a small step that can make a huge difference in how we tackle health inequality.”
The study found that the most commonly recorded causes of death which are avoidable and treatable included epilepsy, pneumonia, and conditions including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and ischaemic heart disease such as myocardial infarction.
“Specific groups disproportionately affected include younger adults with learning disabilities, women, and those residing in areas with lower levels of deprivation.
“These findings highlight that the health inequalities experienced by adults with learning disabilities in Scotland are not primarily linked to older age or neighbourhood deprivation, but that other underlying factors may need to be addressed to improve life expectancy for this group.”
Maree Todd, the Scottish Government's Social Care Minister, said: “The Scottish Government wants people with learning disabilities to live longer and healthier lives. The Scottish Government commissions the SLDO to undertake research on people with learning disabilities, with a particular focus on their health.
“This research provides vital insight into commonly recorded causes of death. The insights of this research will feed into the ongoing work on annual health checks for people with learning disabilities. Offering annual health checks is a big step towards improving the health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.
“The Scottish Government issued national directions requiring NHS boards to deliver annual health checks to people aged 16 and over with learning disabilities. We are providing £2 million annually to boards for local implementation and we are delivering a programme of work to support this and to raise awareness amongst people with learning disabilities.”
