Caitlin Chicoine, MD; Erin E. Hickey, MD; Kristi L. Kirschner, MD; Brian A. Chicoine, MD
Corresponding Author: Caitlin Chicoine, MD; University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Contact Email: caitlin.chicoine@cchmc.org
Section: Commentary
Publication Date: 3/22/2022
People with intellectual and developmental disabilities have a higher risk of mortality from COVID-19 than the general population. Providers may assume that this is due to the burden of comorbidities for this population; however, the disparity in mortality persists even when controlling for comorbidities. We review the current policies and practices that may be contributing to this higher level of mortality. We contend that a pervasive ableism among medical providers leads to a variation in the medical care options that are provided to people with intellectual disabilities and their families. Due to this bias, poor outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities may become a self-fulfilling prophecy. We make recommendations to address the modifiable factors that are contributing to the higher level of mortality for people with intellectual disabilities who are infected with COVID-19, provide strategies to combat ableism within the medical field, and discuss the unique role of the primary care physician as advocate.