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People with Intellectual Disabilities, Dysphagia and Post-Covid Syndrome

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Abstract

People with Intellectual Disability (ID) were more likely to contract COVID-19 infection and more likely to die from the consequences. However, there is no evidence on the long-term impact of COVID-19 infection in people with ID. Post-Covid Syndrome (PCS) is an established diagnosis that requires specialist clinical support. To date there is no data on how common PCS is in people with ID, or how symptoms present. Dysphagia is identified as a clinical marker because of the known association with PCS, and the clear objective diagnostic criteria applicable through specialist assessment. This investigation presents a cohort of people with ID, who developed dysphagia/worsening of dysphagia post diagnosis with COVID-19. Cases were identified through support from the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists. Data was collected by electronic survey, including application of the COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale-modified (C19-YRSm). The C19-YRSm is a validated assessment tool for PCS and it’s impact upon functional disability. This case series identifies that symptoms consistent with PCS are present in people with ID, post-COVID-19 infection. The risk of diagnostic overshadowing or misdiagnosis is high due to the subjective nature and the quality of PCS symptoms. People with ID who develop PCS may not be readily identified by clinical services and therefore not be accessing the specialist medical support required. Furthermore, changes in behaviour secondary to PCS may lead to unnecessary increased prescribing of psychotropic medication which in itself risks worsening dysphagia. Dysphagia could be an important bellwether to identify PCS in people with ID.

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Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of South Wales, Pontypridd, UK

    Lance Watkins

  2. Swansea Bay University Health Board, Port Talbot, UK

    Lance Watkins & Angela Jones

  3. Cornwall Intellectual Disability Equitable Research (CIDER), University of Plymouth Peninsula School of Medicine, Truro, UK

    Lance Watkins, Kirsten Lamb, Richard Laugharne & Rohit Shankar

  4. Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists, London, UK

    Amit Kulkarni, Emma Webber, Angela Jones, Geraldine Napier & Angela Crocker

  5. University of Central Lancashire, Preston, UK

    Amit Kulkarni

  6. Statsconsultancy Ltd., Bucks, UK

    Paul Bassett

  7. Hertfordshire Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, St Albans, UK

    Indermeet Sawhney & Rohit Shankar

  8. Cornwall Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Threemilestone Industrial Estate, Truro, TR 4 9LD, UK

    Richard Laugharne

  9. School for Policy Studies, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK

    Pauline Heslop

  10. South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, Belfast, UK

    Geraldine Napier

  11. School of Medicine, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Manoj Sivan

Authors
  1. Lance Watkins
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  2. Amit Kulkarni
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  12. Manoj Sivan
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Contributions

All authors satisfy the ICMJE guidance by substantially contributing to the design, analysis and interpretation of the work, drafting of the manuscript, final approval of the manuscript and all agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work is appropriately investigated and resolved.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rohit Shankar.

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Conflict of interests

No author has any direct disclosure/conflict of interests related to the submitted work. RL has been chief investigator in studies for Janssen and Boehringer-Ingelheim Ltd. RS has received institutional and research support from LivaNova, UCB, Eisai, Veriton Pharma, Bial, Angelini, UnEEG and Jazz/GW pharma outside the submitted work. He holds grants from NIHR AI, SBRI and other funding bodies all outside this work. No other author has declared any conflict of interest.

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Watkins, L., Kulkarni, A., Webber, E. et al. People with Intellectual Disabilities, Dysphagia and Post-Covid Syndrome. Dysphagia (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00455-024-10679-1

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