Low adherence to national guidelines for thyroid screening in Down syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
To determine adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for thyroid screening in children with Down syndrome among primary care providers in the states of Oklahoma and Nebraska.


METHODS
We sought to identify all children with Down syndrome born in Oklahoma and Nebraska between 1994 and 2004 and review their medical records for evidence of thyroid screening. Patients were identified through a State Department of Health birth defects registry in Oklahoma and through participation in genetics clinics and laboratories in Nebraska and Oklahoma. Charts obtained from primary care providers were reviewed and the number of actual thyroid screens was compared with the number of recommended screens for each individual during the study period.


RESULTS
In Oklahoma, 13% of participating children received all thyroid screens recommended in the guidelines. In Nebraska, 14% of children received all recommended thyroid screenings. Among participants in Oklahoma, a mean of 34% of recommended thyroid screenings were performed. In Nebraska, a mean of 45% of recommended thyroid screenings were performed.


CONCLUSIONS
The level of adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for thyroid screening in children with Down syndrome is low. Factors contributing to this low level of adherence need to be identified and addressed.
Fergeson
Mark A
MA
Department of Pediatrics, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA. markfergeson@ouhsc.edu
Mulvihill
John J
JJ
Schaefer
G Bradley
GB
Dehaai
Kristi A
KA
Piatt
Jamie
J
Combs
Kathleen
K
Bright
Brianna C
BC
Neas
Barbara R
BR
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000150:complications*; D019983:Guideline Adherence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D009329:Nebraska; D009825:Oklahoma; D013959:Thyroid Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology*