Morbilidad y Mortalidad durante el Primer Año de Vida en Pacientes con Síndrome de Down

Abstract

Objective: Down' Syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal abnormality. It carries an increased risk of concurrent congenital malformations as well as increased risk of mortality when compared to the general population. Objective: To determine the characteristics of morbidity and mortality in patients with DS during the first year of life. Patients and Methods: A prospective study of a cohort of children born with with DS was performed. All children born in 2006 in two Chilean hospitals who were given a clinical diagnosis of DS were included. Infant mortality, morbidity and nutritional diagnosis were determined and recorded every two months. Results: 33 patients were included, 78.8% were full term newborns. Average age of the mother at childbirth was 33.2 ± 7.8 years. Among the 33 patients, 64.5% had congenital heart disease, the most common cause being atrio-ventricular defects (25%), 35% of the patients with CHD required cardiac surgery. Gastrointestinal disorders were diagnosed among 35% of these children, atresia or intestinal stenosis being the most frequent diagnosis. 25.8% of the population suffered from hypothyroidism. Follow-up showed that after two months, 54.8% of these children were malnourished, however at one year old, 22.5% were overweight. By the first year, children had shown 5.38 ± 1.83 episodes of Acute Respiratory Tract Infections per patient per year, and 1.22 ± 1.14 non neonatal hospitalizations per child/year. Half of these hospitalizations were due to lower respiratory tract infection. Two patients died during the study due to infectious disorders, resulting on a survival rate of 93.6% at 12 months. Conclusions: This information should assist physicians in improving patient follow-up. The study should also make evident the need to create national standards to supervise the care of patients with DS.