Intellectually-disabled adults face ‘higher risk of chronic diseases’ like diabetes

A study conducted on the health of adults with intellectual disabilities has found that they are more prone to chronic conditions like hypertension than the general population. The study, conducted by the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health and  involving 227 intellectually disabled adults from the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled Singapore (MINDS), found that intellectually disabled adults had a 22.5% chance of developing hypertension, and 34.8% chance of suffering from high cholesterol. The problem is compounded by the lack of  exercise among intellectually disabled adults, says Associate Professor Gerald Koh of the NUS Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, one of the study’s co-authors.

Media Coverage:

  • Lianhe Zaobao, 9 March 2013, Saturday
  • TODAY Online, 8 March 2013, Friday
  • The Straits Times, 9 March 2013,Saturday
  • Medical Tribune, April 2013