Prevalence and incidence of disability based on the Unique Certificate of Disability at a teaching hospital in the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires.

: Disability is a public health problem that affects an individual's comprehensive development opportunities. The objective of this study was to estimate the annual incidence and prevalence and the diagnostic categories associated with total disability and age groups based on the application for a Unique Certificate of Disability. This was an analytical cohort study in children aged 0-18 years conducted at a teaching hospital of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires between January 2010 and December 2017. Among 22 750 active members, 726 patients applied for a Unique Certificate of Disability; the prevalence was 3.2 % (95 % confidence interval [CI]: 2.9-3.4). The annual cumulative incidence increased from 2012 (0.22 %, 95 % CI: 0.1-0.19) to 2017 (0.59 %, 95 % CI: 0.5-0.7). Mental disabilities accounted for 80 % (n = 576). This study showed an increase in the incidence of disability and also the mental disability category.