Adults with intellectual disabilities in Singapore are more prone to hypertension and other chronic diseases compared to the general population, a study has found.

The study, conducted by the National University of Singapore (NUS) and the Movement for the Intellectually Disabled Singapore (MINDS), was conducted between July and November 2011. It examined 227 intellectually disabled adults aged 40 and above.

The prevalence of hypertension and dyslipidaemia (high cholesterol) was found to be was found to be 5.8 per cent higher and 16.8 per cent higher respectively among intellectually disabled adults in the study, compared to the national average.

One of the study's authors NUS' Professor Gerald Koh said the high prevalence of obesity among the study's participants was a risk factor for chronic diseases.

Of the 80.6 per cent who had their BMI measured, 54.1 per cent of them were overweight.

Prof Koh suggested having more affordable and convenient health screening services for the intellectually disabled.