Survival analysis of the severely and profoundly mentally retarded.

Life-table analyses were performed on 1,915 severely/profoundly retarded institutionalized persons. Data on probability of death and hazard rates are presented according to sex and previously described diagnostic/etiologic categories. The median remaining lifetime for a resident of Central Wisconsin Center on admission was found to be greater than 25 years. The average age of admission was 7.3 years with a range of 0-66 years. The highest death rate was noted in residents with inborn errors of metabolism; the lowest death rate was in residents with primary seizures disorders. On admission, the median remaining lifetime was 8.81 +/- 4.16 years (95% confidence interval) for residents with inborn errors of metabolism, 18.56 +/- 4.26 years for residents with primary CNS malformations, and 24.66 +/- 4.05 years for residents with known syndromes. Residents of all other diagnostic/etiologic categories had a median remaining lifetime of greater than 25 years.