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Background: Dysphagia can have serious health implications including choking and respiratory infection leading to poorer quality of life. People with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk of dysphagia related health complications and early death. Robust dysphagia screening tools are vital for this population., Method: A scoping review and appraisal of the evidence for dysphagia and feeding screening tools for use with people with intellectual disabilities was undertaken., Results: Seven studies (using six screening tools) met the review inclusion criteria. Mostly studies were limited by no defined dysphagia criteria, no verification of tools with a gold reference standard (e.g., videofluoroscopic examination) and lack of participant diversity (small samples, narrow age range, severity of intellectual disability or limited settings)., Conclusions: There is urgent need for development and rigorous appraisal of existing dysphagia screening tools to meet the needs of a wider range of people with intellectual disabilities (particularly mild-to-moderate severity) and in wider settings., (© 2023 The Authors. Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: It is thought that people with Down syndrome die younger than the general population, but that survival rates are improving., Methods: Five databases were searched for keywords related to intellectual disabilities, Down syndrome and mortality. Strict inclusion criteria were applied. Information from 34 selected studies was tabulated, extracted and synthesized., Results: People with Down syndrome died about 28 years younger than the general population. Congenital heart anomalies, comorbidities, low birthweight, and Black and minority ethnicity influenced earlier age of death, as did younger maternal age and poorer parental education. Congenital heart anomalies and respiratory conditions were the leading causes of death, and more common than in the general population. Survival rates have improved over time, particularly for those with congenital heart anomalies., Conclusions: People with Down syndrome are living longer but still die younger of different causes than the general population. More robust comparative data are needed, and ethnic differences require further study., (© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Death of people with intellectual disabilities is considered to be earlier than for the general population., Methods: Databases were searched for key words on intellectual disabilities and death. Strict inclusion/exclusion criteria were used. Information was extracted from selected papers, tabulated and synthesized. Prospero registration number: CRD42015020161., Results: Of 19,111 retrieved articles, 27 met criteria. Death was earlier by 20 years. It has improved in recent decades; however, the same inequality gap with the general population remains. More severe intellectual disabilities, and/or additional comorbidities rendered it shortest. Standardized mortality rates showed a greater inequality for women than men. Respiratory disease and circulatory diseases (with greater congenital and lesser ischaemic disease compared with the general population) were the main causes of death. Cancer was less common, and cancer profile differed from the general population. Some deaths are potentially avoidable. All research is from high-income countries, and cause of death is surprisingly little investigated., Conclusions: Improved health care, including anticipatory care such as health checks, and initiatives addressing most relevant lifestyle behaviours and health risks are indicated., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: The health-related behaviours of people with intellectual disabilities may be determined by organisational influences. This innovative study aimed to explore managers' and staffs' perspectives on organisational influences on the promotion of healthy behaviours for this population., Method: A qualitative methodology was employed. Four focus groups with staff and eleven telephone interviews with managers were undertaken across three residential services in one region (Northern Ireland) of the UK. Transcripts were analysed thematically., Findings: The organisations involved in this study did not have the cultural ethos or capacity to sustain consistent support for staff involvement in health promotion. Organisational support and outcome-focused strategies are recommended for encouraging staff involvement in health promotion activities., Conclusion: These findings have implications for some organisations that support people with intellectual disabilities in improving the way they facilitate health promotion. They highlight the need for organisational cultures to facilitate knowledge translation and embrace evidence-based health promotion interventions., (© 2017 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)