Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and the types of congenital heart defects (CHD). In children with Down’s syndrome (DS); and to assess the impact of CHD on nutritional status. This was a prospective cohort study of infants with DS over a six month period starting Sept 2011. CHD occurred in 43.1% of 109 children with DS. Atrioventricular Septal defect (AVSD) was found in 32%, Ventricular Septal defect (VSD) in 26%, Patent Ductus Arteriosus (PDA) in 17% and Atrial Septal Defect (ASD) in 15% of the affected infants. Over all under-nutrition was found in 62 (56.9 %) infants; 87.2% were in the CHD group and 33.9% in the group with normal hearts. The presence of CHD in children with DS had an influence on their nutritional status. Early recognition of the cardiac condition of neonates with DS by screening is justified.
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