Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Background: In Canada, the prevalence of intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) is estimated to be 1-3%. This subset of the population experience disparities in health and healthcare including access to quality primary care relative to the general population. Primary care is seen as pivotal in reducing health and healthcare disparities faced by adults with IDD in Ontario. This project investigates the relationship between quality primary care and adverse outcomes, namely admission to long-term care and hospitalizations due to ambulatory care sensitive conditions. Objectives: In particular, this project will 1) assess whether older adults with and without IDD receive different quality primary care, 2) evaluate whether the presence of an IDD affects the relationship between primary care and adverse outcomes noted above, and 3) examine factors associated with adverse outcomes in older adults with and without IDD. Methods: This ICES-based retrospective cohort study uses an existing cohort created as part of a CIHR-funded grant to study primary care of adults with IDD that includes 51,138 adults with IDD between 18 to 99 years of age living in Ontario in 2009/2010, with a focus on those 40+ years. The cohort will be compared to a random sample of 20% of the population without IDD. The incidence of adverse events in adults with IDD who received high quality primary care vs. low quality primary care will be comparedu sing the rate ratio. Conclusion: Thus far, little research has been done on whether preventive primary care can prevent or delay admission to long-term care or avoidable hospitalization among adults with IDD. The results of this study can be used to inform appropriate primary care planning and allotment at the community level