title: A community cross-sectional survey of medical problems in 440 children with Down syndrome in New York State.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the frequency of medical problems in a large population of children with Down syndrome.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study population included 440 children with Down syndrome (ages 3-14 years) identified primarily through the New York Congenital Malformations Registry. Parents completed questionnaires on medical problems.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Our study population was predominately White (92.3%), non-Hispanic (72.3%) with at least 1 college educated parent (72.3%). The prevalence of medical problems was as follows: heart disease (55%), hearing problem (39%), vision problem (39%), thyroid disease (27%), celiac disease (5%), alopecia (5%), seizures (7%), asthma/reactive airway disease (32%), diabetes (1%), and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (0.2%). Of the children with heart disease, 58% needed surgery at a mean age of 9 months. Of the children with hearing loss, 29% were identified on newborn screening and 13% used an amplification device. Of the children with thyroid disease, 31% were diagnosed in the newborn period. Only 7% of these children with Down syndrome had no medical problem listed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Prevalence data of medical illnesses in a large population of children with Down syndrome provide us with data to support implementation of the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines for health supervision for children with Down syndrome. The long-term health implications of the conditions we surveyed will be important for decreasing morbidity and increasing overall health and wellness into adulthood.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Nancy J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Roizen
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Caroline I
authors.initials: CI
authors.lastname: Magyar
authors.affiliation: Center for Autism Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.
authors.forename: Emily S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Kuschner
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Sulkes
authors.affiliation: New York Congenital Malformations Registry, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY; University of Albany School of Public Health, Rensselear, NY.
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Druschel
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Wijngaarden
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rodgers
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Diehl
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY.
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY.
authors.forename: Susan L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Hyman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009518:New York; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires