Medical issues among children and teenagers with Down syndrome in Hong Kong.
We examined the prevalence of medical problems in children and teenagers with Down syndrome in Hong Kong.


METHODS
Children with Down syndrome receiving care from seven regional hospitals were included and their hospital records were reviewed. A total of 407 patients, aged between 0.06 and 17.16 years were included. Cardiovascular problems were observed in 216 (53%), endocrine problems in 111 (27%), gastrointestinal problems in 46 (11%), haematological problems in 18 (4%), neurological problems in 27 (7%), sleep problems in 36 (9%), skeletal problems in 56 (14%), visual problems in 195 (48%) and auditory problems in 137 (34%).


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of medical problems was high in children and teenagers with Down syndrome in Hong Kong and similar to previous findings elsewhere. Future studies on the local prevalence of medical problems in the adult population with Down syndrome would help to define their medical needs.
Yam
Winnie Ka-Ling
WK
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Alice Ho Miu Ling Nethersole Hospital. wklyam@hotmail.com
Tse
Philomena Wan Ting
PW
Yu
Chak Man
CM
Chow
Chun Bong
CB
But
Wai Man
WM
Li
Kit Yu
KY
Lee
Lai Ping
LP
Fung
Eva Lai Wah
EL
Mak
Pauline Pui Yee
PP
Lau
Joseph Tak Fai
JT
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006723:Hong Kong / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D055815:Young Adult