Study to assess incidence and type of congenital heart defect in children with down syndrome presenting to tertiary care teaching hospital of Southern Rajasthan

Abstract

Background: Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels. Cardiac anomalies with a prevalence of about 50% are the most common anomaly responsible for death during the 1st two years of life in children with down syndrome. Objective of the study was to Assess the incidence and type of congenital heart disease in children with down syndrome presenting to a tertiary care hospital. Methods: Hospital based descriptive study. Participants: All children (0 to 18 years) diagnosed (clinically or on karyotyping) with Down syndrome, presenting in RNT Medical College, Udaipur Each patient was evaluated with a pre-set Performa which contained detailed sociodemographic profile, maternal and clinical history including age of conception, detailed physical examination to look for features of down syndrome. Degree of Intellectual / Developmental retardation was assessed by Vineland Social Maturity Scale. 2D- echo, karyotyping was done in all patient. CBC, thyroid profile, CXR, USG- abdomen, Invertogram were done as per need. Results: Total 144 participants included in the study, 75 (52%) were females and rest were males 48%. Out of these 111 (77%) were aware about dog bite causes disease and among these 52 (46.8%) were aware that dog bite causes rabies. Among the participants, 138 (95.8%) were aware about the vaccine availability and 125 (90.5%) knew vaccine is available in Government Hospital. In the study 88% of dog bite victims received treatment. Conclusions: More than half of children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease, mostly Acyanotic, more specifically VSD. Early screening and diagnosis re the key to avoid irreversible hemodynamic consequences.