Trends in age-standardised mortality rates and life expectancy of people with learning disabilities in Sheffield over a 33-year period

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to describe trends in the age-standardised mortality rate and life expectancy of people with learning disabilities in Sheffield over three decades and to compare these with trends in the general population of England and Wales.

Design/methodology/approach - Data were extracted from the Sheffield Case Register and compared with data published by the Office for National Statistics for England and Wales.

Findings - There was a sustained reduction in age-standardised mortality rates and a sustained increase in life expectancy for people with intellectual disabilities over the 33-year period. These changes are extremely similar to those observed in the general population of England and Wales.

Originality/value - There is little evidence of any closing of the gap in age-standardised mortality rates or life expectancy between people with intellectual disabilities and the general population.