Season of birth in Down's syndrome.
Previous studies have found a summer peak in the birth of individuals with Down's syndrome but have not tended to examine them into adulthood. The aims of this study were to look for evidence of a seasonal effect in birth and to uncover any differences in adulthood between those born in different seasons. The casenotes of all adults with Down's syndrome from the catchment area of a hospital for people with learning disability were examined. A summer peak in births was confirmed. Only 6% of births took place during January and February compared with the 17% expected (P = 0.019); birth during these 2 months was associated with female sex (P = 0.047). There was a trend for those born in December to March not to develop epilepsy (P = 0.053).
Puri
B K
BK
Department of Psychiatry, Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School, London.
Singh
I
I
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D012737:Sex Factors