title: Deaths among children, adolescents, and young adults with Down syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although life expectancies in Down syndrome (DS) have doubled over the past 3-4 decades, there continue to be many early deaths. Yet, most research focuses on infant mortality or later adult deaths.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this US study, hospital discharge and death records from the state of Tennessee were linked to examine 2046 hospitalized individuals with DS (85 died) in three age groups: children (1-9), adolescents (10-19) and young adults (20-29).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most deaths occurred to young adults, while children had the most hospitalizations. Leading causes of death were cardiovascular and pulmonary conditions, and patients who died had longer hospital stays. Proportions of female deaths rose in young adulthood, and disproportionately more African Americans died at each age period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Mortality is high among young adults with DS. Special vigilance is needed for individuals with DS who are female, African American and in their 20s.
authors.affiliation: Department of Child & Adolescent Development, California State University, Northridge, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Miodrag
authors.forename: Sophie E
authors.initials: SE
authors.lastname: Silverberg
authors.forename: Richard C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Urbano
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Hodapp
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002423:Cause of Death / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D017052:Hospital Mortality / Q000639:trends*; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult