An Examination of the Validity of the Health Risk Screening Tool: Predicting Mortality in People With Intellectual Disabilities

Background and Purpose: The Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) is a 22-item instrument specifically designed to assess the health risk of persons with developmental disabilities. The predictive validity of the HRST was investigated by examining its ability to predict mortality. Methods: The sample consisted of 12,582 people with an intellectual or developmental disability residing in Georgia (U.S.). Data were analyzed using survival analysis (Kaplan-Meier estimate and Cox regression) and a binary logistic regression. Results: All models supported the prognostic value of the six-level health risk classification. The Kaplan-Meier procedure showed clear separation among functions. The Cox proportional hazard regression revealed that hazard is inversely related to the health risk level, even after controlling for potential confounding by gender, ethnicity, and race. Conclusions: The HRST can predict mortality. Therefore, it can serve as a basis for establishing healthcare needs and determining nursing care acuity.