Dear Council: Below is a link to a very recent study (May 2020) on COVID-19 related deaths and I/DD. It appeared in the Disability and
Health Journal and is colloquially referred to as the Syracuse Study. While the results will not likely surprise you, it is good to see it scientifically quantified. Below I have pasted the conclusion for those who want to see that up-front. Please feel free
to share this broadly as you see fit.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1936657420300674?via%3Dihub
Conclusions
Results from this study confirm that people with IDD have higher prevalence of comorbid risk factors (i.e. hypertension, heart disease, respiratory disease, and diabetes) often associated with poorer COVID-19 outcomes.12 While
not testable with the data utilized in this study, this finding suggests that people with IDD may be at higher risk of developing more severe outcomes from COVID-19, including death. Results from this study also point to distinct age-related differences in
COVID-19 trends among people with and without IDD. The age-related distribution of COVID-19 cases peaked for both groups at ages 18–74, but was comparatively higher for those with IDD at ages 0–17, and comparatively lower at ages 75 and over. In addition,
the age-related distribution of COVID-19 deaths peaked earlier, at ages 18–74, for those with IDD, compared to ages 75 and older for those without IDD. Further emphasizing age related differences, people with IDD had a comparatively higher case-fatality rate
than those without IDD at ages 0–17 and 18–74, but a similar case-fatality rate at ages 75 and over. Future work must continue to monitor COVID-19 trends among this and other disability groups with all available data sources, paying particular attention to
age related trends when possible.
Donna A. Meltzer, CEO
National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities
1825 K Street, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20006
202-506-5813 office
301-704-2180 cell
