A study is to fill “major gap” in knowledge about the disproportionate impact of covid-19 on people with learning disabilities.

The information is needed “urgently” to inform clinical decision-making and public health policy, according to the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory (SLDO), which is leading the work.

It says there is currently “a major gap in the data available in Scotland on rates of infection, case fatality and excess mortality rates”.

New research will link health and deaths records to 2011 census information to determine virus infection and death rates among people with learning disabilities in Scotland.

England’s Care Quality Commission has already published analysis showing a 134% increase in the number of deaths of people with a learning disability who were receiving care support.

Angela Henderson, Deputy Director of the SLDO, says the research was vital as people with learning disabilities already face “significant health inequalities”.

She told healthandcare.scot: “Research by the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory has highlighted that people with learning disabilities have high levels of multimorbidity and many die prematurely, often from preventable causes. Deaths from respiratory causes are common for people with learning disabilities.”

“Given these additional risk factors we are working with partners to quantify the impact of covid-19 on the population with learning disabilities and to enable us to mitigate against any additional risks that are identified through this research.

“We are hopeful that the project will be approved soon to enable us to undertake this vital work.”


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