Health indicators for people with intellectual disabilities: a European perspective.

People with intellectual disabilities make up about 1% of the population of Europe. As trends toward community life advance, they have become more visible and more likely to access generic health systems. Yet evidence suggests that there are striking disparities between the health of this group and that of the general population. Increased longevity means that adults in this group expect to live longer lives and thus to encounter age-related risks for various health conditions. The 'Pomona' project, funded by the EU Health Monitoring Unit, aims to develop a set of health indicators for people with intellectual disabilities. It will build on the work accomplished by the team developing ECHI--European Community Health Indicators. This article outlines the rationale for the project, key elements in its implementation and expected outcomes.