Young adults with a learning disability are nine times more likely to die from treatable causes compared to those in the general population, according to Glasgow researchers.

The new study, led by the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory, also found that overall, for adults of all ages with learning disabilities, the risk of premature mortality is three times higher.

Adults over 25 years old were found to be dying some 15 years younger than adults in the general population.

Epilepsy, pneumonia, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and ischaemic heart disease were among some of the most commonly recorded causes of death.

The researchers say the stark findings demonstrate health inequalities experienced by people with learning disabilities are particularly pronounced in young adulthood.

Lead author Dr Ewelina Rydzewska-Fazekas said: “These findings highlight that the health inequalities experienced by adults with learning disabilities in Scotland are not primarily linked to older age or neighbourhood deprivation, but that other underlying factors may need to be addressed to improve life expectancy for this group.”

Dr Simon Webster, chief executive of the Scottish Commission for People with Learning Disabilities, said annual health checks can prevent health conditions from getting worse.

He said: "These important findings from the Scottish Learning Disabilities Observatory show that many people with learning disabilities are dying too soon, and that their early deaths could have been avoided.

“We need action now to prevent these avoidable deaths.

“The Scottish government has committed to annual health checks for all people with learning disabilities in Scotland. We need health boards to act quickly to make sure that everyone with a learning disability is offered an annual health check."

Just 6% of eligible people with a learning disability were offered an annual health check last year, despite health boards receiving £2m to deliver the service.

National disabled people’s organisation. People First (Scotland) said last month that its members were “disappointed” that so little progress had been made on this and all other areas of their lives.

The research from the Observatory, published today in the BMJ Open, also shows Down syndrome was the most commonly recorded cause of death for adults with learning disabilities.

The researchers said this suggests there is uncertainty among health professionals about underlying causes of death among this population and there is an urgent need to review the way their deaths are recorded.

In response to these findings, social care minister Maree Todd said offering annual health checks is a “big step” towards improving the health outcomes for people with learning disabilities.

She said: “The Scottish government wants people with learning disabilities to live longer and healthier lives.

“The insights of this research will feed into the ongoing work on annual health checks for people with learning disabilities.

“The Scottish government issued national directions requiring NHS boards to deliver annual health checks to people aged 16 and over with learning disabilities. We are providing £2m annually to boards for local implementation and we are delivering a programme of work to support this and to raise awareness amongst people with learning disabilities.”

Read more: Scotland misses target on disability health checks; High cancer risk for adults with learning disabilities;

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