title: Ten-year survival of Down syndrome births.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the survival status of children with Down syndrome (DS), and to document factors influencing survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Follow-up study of cases identified from the Dublin European Register of Congenital Anomalies and Twins (EUROCAT) Register. Follow-up was attempted for each case until death or 1992 or until the date last known to be alive.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eastern Health Board, Dublin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 389 DS children, born between 1 January 1980 and 31 December 1989 were followed up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survival rates of 88% at one year and 82% at 10 years were found. There was a non-significant improvement in survival between the cohort born in 1980-1984 and that born in 1985-1989. Congenital heart defects reduced survival to 72% and complete atrio-ventricular canal defects (CAVD) had the poorest prognosis (58% survival at 10 years). Cases with CAVD showed a trend towards improved survival when surgically treated. Maternal age mother's county of residence, sex of infant, season of birth and presence of additional non-cardiac congenital anomalies had no impact on survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Four out of five DS children now survive at least 10 years. Adequate educational and health service provision needs to be made for them, especially those with congenital heart defects. The need for studies which compare survival and quality of life in DS children with CAVD who undergo cardiac surgery versus those who do not, taking account of various selection factors, is identified.
authors.affiliation: Health Information Unit, Eastern Health Board, Dr Steevens Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fogarty
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lyons
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Delany
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Buckley
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000401:mortality* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008017:Life Expectancy; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D017741:Survivors