Predictors of unplanned somatic specialist healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic among older people with intellectual disabilities: a report from the IDcare study
Axmon, Anna LU
; Björne, Petra
; Engström, Karin
LU
and Sandberg, Magnus
LU
(2026)
IASSIDD’s 7th European Congress
- Abstract
- Background: Older people with intellectual disabilities have complex healthcare needs, with many somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities and high healthcare utilization, including unplanned (i.e., acute) healthcare contacts. However, little is known about predictors of unplanned healthcare contacts—a possible proxy for unmet healthcare needs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Question(s): Which sociodemographic and health- and healthcare-related factors predicted unplanned contacts with somatic specialist care among older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Methodology: We used national and regional registers to establish a cohort of older people (65+ years) with intellectual... (More) - Background: Older people with intellectual disabilities have complex healthcare needs, with many somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities and high healthcare utilization, including unplanned (i.e., acute) healthcare contacts. However, little is known about predictors of unplanned healthcare contacts—a possible proxy for unmet healthcare needs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Research Question(s): Which sociodemographic and health- and healthcare-related factors predicted unplanned contacts with somatic specialist care among older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Methodology: We used national and regional registers to establish a cohort of older people (65+ years) with intellectual disabilities (n=725) and identified sociodemographic, health, and healthcare factors in 2020. These were used as potential predictors for unplanned somatic specialist visits in 2021.
Results: During 2021, 31% (n=222) had at least one unplanned visit in somatic specialist care. Prior unplanned visits in both primary and specialist care increased the risk of unplanned specialist care in 2021. Increased risk was also seen for having congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or alcohol abuse, as well as a range of different reasons for seeking healthcare the previous year. Being born in Sweden with at least one foreign-born parent decreased the risk, whereas cohabitation status, living in special accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities, having personal assistance, age, or sex had no effect.
Conclusion: Chronic disorders and recurrent conditions appear to drive unplanned somatic specialist care among older people with intellectual disabilities. This likely reflects poorly managed or unstable health conditions and may indicate unmet healthcare needs. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/433f2bf7-c46e-471d-911e-872f8e7d58d0
- author
- Axmon, Anna
LU
; Björne, Petra
; Engström, Karin
LU
and Sandberg, Magnus
LU
- organization
- publishing date
- 2026-07-22
- type
- Contribution to conference
- publication status
- published
- subject
- conference name
- IASSIDD’s 7th European Congress
- conference location
- Munich
- conference dates
- 2026-07-28 - 2026-07-31
- project
- Health care utilization in primary and specialist care among people with intellectual disability: A longitudinal register study
- Support, health care, end-of-life care, and causes of death among people with intellectual disability: Effects of the Covid-19 pandemic
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- 433f2bf7-c46e-471d-911e-872f8e7d58d0
- date added to LUP
- 2026-08-10 14:40:08
- date last changed
- 2026-08-11 08:33:20
@misc{433f2bf7-c46e-471d-911e-872f8e7d58d0,
abstract = {{Background: Older people with intellectual disabilities have complex healthcare needs, with many somatic and psychiatric co-morbidities and high healthcare utilization, including unplanned (i.e., acute) healthcare contacts. However, little is known about predictors of unplanned healthcare contacts—a possible proxy for unmet healthcare needs, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.<br/>Research Question(s): Which sociodemographic and health- and healthcare-related factors predicted unplanned contacts with somatic specialist care among older people with intellectual disabilities during the COVID-19 pandemic?<br/>Methodology: We used national and regional registers to establish a cohort of older people (65+ years) with intellectual disabilities (n=725) and identified sociodemographic, health, and healthcare factors in 2020. These were used as potential predictors for unplanned somatic specialist visits in 2021.<br/>Results: During 2021, 31% (n=222) had at least one unplanned visit in somatic specialist care. Prior unplanned visits in both primary and specialist care increased the risk of unplanned specialist care in 2021. Increased risk was also seen for having congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias, or alcohol abuse, as well as a range of different reasons for seeking healthcare the previous year. Being born in Sweden with at least one foreign-born parent decreased the risk, whereas cohabitation status, living in special accommodation for people with intellectual disabilities, having personal assistance, age, or sex had no effect.<br/>Conclusion: Chronic disorders and recurrent conditions appear to drive unplanned somatic specialist care among older people with intellectual disabilities. This likely reflects poorly managed or unstable health conditions and may indicate unmet healthcare needs.}},
author = {{Axmon, Anna and Björne, Petra and Engström, Karin and Sandberg, Magnus}},
language = {{eng}},
month = {{07}},
title = {{Predictors of unplanned somatic specialist healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic among older people with intellectual disabilities: a report from the IDcare study}},
year = {{2026}},
}