The impact of COVID-19 on residents of long-term care facilities with learning disabilities and/or autism.

This study looked at how COVID-19 affected people with autism and learning disabilities living in care homes compared to those living at home. Researchers found that people in care homes were much more likely to die from COVID-19, especially those over 60 years old. Most infections happened during outbreaks within the care homes. The study shows that people with autism and learning disabilities in care homes need better protection during health emergencies.

This surveillance study analyzed COVID-19 outcomes among 3,501 individuals with learning disabilities and/or autism living in care homes across England from February 2020 to March 2022. The research compared death rates between care home residents and those living in private homes. Key findings showed care home residents had a crude case fatality rate of 2.6% compared to 0.6% for those in households. Care home residents aged 60+ had over eight times higher odds of death from COVID-19 compared to their counterparts in private homes.

Most infections (80.4%) occurred during outbreak situations within care facilities, highlighting the vulnerability of this population during the pandemic.

Results emphasize need for enhanced infection control protocols and emergency preparedness in care facilities serving individuals with learning disabilities and autism. Targeted interventions for older residents and outbreak prevention strategies are critical for protecting this vulnerable population during health emergencies.

Study design not clearly specified. Sample size details not provided. Potential confounding factors such as comorbidities, care quality differences, and access to healthcare not adequately addressed. Limited generalizability beyond England's care system during the specified pandemic period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations including those with learning disabilities. Assessing the incidence and risk of death in such settings can improve the prevention of COVID-19. We describe individuals who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 while residing in care homes for learning disabilities and/or autism and investigate the risk of death compared with individuals living in their own homes. Surveillance records for COVID-19 infections in England from 02 February 2020 to 31 March 2022 were extracted.

Data on property type, variant wave, vaccination, hospitalisation and death were derived through data linkage and enrichment. Care home residents with learning disabilities and/or autism and diagnosed with COVID-19 were identified and analysed, and logistic regression analyses compared the risk of death of individuals living in private residence. We assessed interaction parameters by post-estimation analyses. A total of 3501 individuals were identified as diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 whilst living in 632 care home properties for learning disabilities and/or autism.

Of the 3686 episodes of infection, 80.4% were part of an outbreak. The crude case fatality rate was 2.6% and 0.6% among care home residents with autism and/or learning disabilities and their counterparts in households, respectively.The post-estimation analyses found over eight times the odds of death among care home residents in 60 years old compared with their counterparts living in private homes. Care home residents with learning disabilities and/or autism have a greater risk of death from COVID-19. Optimising guidance to meet their needs is of great importance.