Linked data analysis of learning disability health checks and emergency hospital admissions in the Kent Integrated Dataset.

Abstract

Background: People with learning disabilities have higher rates of admitted patient care than the general population. This study explored emergency hospital admissions during 2018/19 in association with learning disability health check recording in general practice within the Kent Integrated Dataset during 2016/17 to 2018/19.

Methods: Multiple logistic regression evaluated the odds of emergency hospital admission by sex, age, deprivation, residence, risk score, long-term conditions, severe health needs and health check. During 2018/19, one or more emergency hospital admissions were recorded for 10.9% of the 5,759 persons recorded with learning disability.

Results: There were lower odds of emergency hospital admission in persons having had learning disability health check in the past 3 years even after adjustment.

Conclusions: Comparison to nationally representative research suggests a consistent finding of benefit from learning disability health check on indicators of unplanned care use, supporting the view that learning disability health checks facilitate the addressing of key health needs.