COVID-19 in people with developmental disabilities: a scoping review

ABSTRACT

Objective: To examine the emerging evidence on developmental disability type and frequency in the population affected by COVID-19, identifying more frequent forms of categorization, incidence/prevalence and comorbidities.Methods: For this scoping review, we searched for observational studies in the MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus (Elsevier), ISI Web of Science (Clarivate), LILACS (VHL) and grey literature databases. As eligibility criteria, studies should present results of developmental disability (DD) occurrence in people with COVID-19, allowing comparison with the general population, or between groups of disabilities. Two independent reviewers mapped the information using a previously elaborated data extraction instrument. Two other researchers verified the data and assisted in table elaboration to present the results.Results: There was a diversity of terminologies used to categorize DD. People with DD and comorbidities that represent a higher risk for COVID-19 required hospitalization more frequently than the general population. Out of a total of 4930 studies, 14 were selected for assessment. Of these, 5 articles were longitudinal studies.Conclusion: In people with DD, COVID-19 had higher morbidity, lethality and mortality rates in younger age groups, in the poorest population, in the institutionalized population, requiring life support technologies and specialized care. The vulnerability of people with DD to COVID-19 depends on disease type and severity and the presence of comorbidities, highlighting the need for attention in diagnosis and preventive measures, such as vaccination.