adults with disabilities bearing brunt of covid-19: study

the pandemic has been particularly hard on people with disabilities, according to a new study that found longer hospital stays and an increased risk of rehospitalization were common among vulnerable patients.the research, published in the canadian medical association journal (cmaj), said patients under 65 with traumatic brain injury, intellectual or developmental disabilities and multiple disabilities were most at risk. not enough has been done to meet the needs of these patients, according to researchers.“consideration of disability-related needs has largely been absent from the covid-19 response, with vaccine eligibility driven primarily by age and medical comorbidity, limited accommodations made for patients with disabilities who are in hospital and disability data often not being captured in surveillance programs,” they wrote.researchers studied the data of 1,279 adult patients — 22.3 per cent of whom had a disability — who were hospitalized for covid-19 at seven teaching hospitals in toronto and mississauga between jan. 1 and nov. 30, 2020. they found that patients with disabilities spent an average of 36 per cent longer in the hospital than those without a disability and were 77 per cent more likely to be readmitted within 30 days of their first hospitalization. the findings remained the same even after accounting for age and other factors that might influence the results. they were supported by similar research in the u.s. and the uk.

2.5 million ontarians have disabilities

“there are two and a half million ontarians who have disabilities, which is a significant proportion of the population and includes our family members, our friends, our co-workers and people in our communities,” said sandi bell, a disability advocate and member of the board of directors of arch disability law centre. “yet throughout covid-19, people with disabilities have been made to feel invisible. we have become even more vulnerable, as maneuvering (through) the health care system has been difficult, confusing and scary.“there is genuine demand for this type of data to help prioritize the needs of people with disabilities, which is what we believe canadians would want to see.”the study suggests some measures to better meet the needs of people with disabilities, including improving accommodation for those who need a support person, training clinicians on the needs and rights of people with disabilities and including disability-related data in covid-19 surveillance and tracking.“our findings highlight the importance of a pandemic response that prioritizes the needs of patients with disabilities who have covid-19, particularly when they are in hospital and after their hospital stay,” the authors conclude. “for patients with sensory, intellectual or developmental disabilities especially, accommodations should be prioritized for those requiring support persons to assist with communication.“future research should also evaluate the intersection of disability with gender, experiences of racism and other social determinants of health, which may further affect covid-19 outcomes. such efforts should be prioritized in the pandemic response to ensure equitable care for patients with disabilities who have covid-19.”dave yasvinski is a writer with healthing.ca