Disparities in mortality by disability: An 11-year follow-up study of 1 million individuals

Abstract

Objectives This longitudinal study examines to what extent the risk of mortality—all-cause, natural death, suicide, and unintentional injury mortality—differs by types and severity of disabilities as well as disability status.

Methods Data were the National Sample Cohort of 1,025,340 individuals in South Korea followed from 2002 to 2013. Cox regression with time-variant variables was used to estimate the hazard ratio of mortality by disability.

Results Individuals with disabilities had a higher risk of mortality compared to those without (HR 1.84, 95% CI 1.80–1.88 for natural death; HR 1.83, 95% CI 1.64–2.03 for suicide; HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.38–1.71 for unintentional injury). All types of disability were associated with an increased risk of natural death. Individuals with mental disability were the highest risk group for suicide (HR 7.14, 95% CI 5.31–9.60). People defined as having severe disability had an elevated risk for all categories of mortality.

Conclusions Disabilities are important markers of high risk of mortality. Findings call for actions to reduce mortality risk of people with disabilities, including preventing suicidal behaviors of those with mental disability.