MORTALITY IN PERSONS WITH DEVELOPMENTAL-DISABILITIES AFTER TRANSFER INTO COMMUNITY CARE

More than 2,000 persons with developmental disabilities have been tran sferred from California state institutions into community care in rece nt years. investigated whether this has been accompanied by a change i n mortality rates, using data on 1,878 clients moved since April 1993. Mortality rates were compared to those expected for comparable person s in institutions. Risk-adjusted mortality rates for movers exceeded i nstitutional rates by 51%, P < .05. After removal of cancer deaths in both groups, this increased to 67%. The effect was largest shortly aft er the move and in the subjects who had moved most recently. The deins titutionalization process in California appears to have resulted in a: substantial increase in mortality, indicating the need to ensure conti nuous, consistent, and competent medical care and supervision in the c ommunity.