Is Down Syndrome a Disappearing Birth Defect?

Objective To assess trends in the prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) from 1986 to 2004 in Victoria, Australia (population ∼5 million). Study design The Victorian Birth Defects Register and the Prenatal Diagnosis Database were linked to ascertain all cases of DS. Total and birth prevalence estimates we...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inThe Journal of pediatrics Vol. 152; no. 1; pp. 20 - 24.e1
Main Authors Collins, Veronica R., PhD, Muggli, Evelyne E., MPH, Riley, Merilyn, B App Sci (HIM), Grad Dip (Epi & Biostats), Palma, Sonia, B App Sci (HIM), Halliday, Jane L., PhD
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published New York, NY Mosby, Inc 2008
Elsevier
Subjects
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Chromosome aberrations
Down Syndrome - diagnosis
Down Syndrome - epidemiology
Female
General aspects
Humans
Infant
Infant, Newborn
Life Expectancy
Male
Maternal Age
Medical genetics
Medical sciences
Pediatrics
Pregnancy
Prenatal Diagnosis
Prevalence
Registries
Retrospective Studies
Victoria - epidemiology
Victoria
BDR
Births Defects Register
Perinatal Data Collection Unit
PDCU
Down syndrome
DS
Chromosomal aberration
Human
Pediatrics
Newborn diseases
Trisomy
Newborn
Malformation
Chromosome G21
Aneuploidy
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Summary:Objective To assess trends in the prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) from 1986 to 2004 in Victoria, Australia (population ∼5 million). Study design The Victorian Birth Defects Register and the Prenatal Diagnosis Database were linked to ascertain all cases of DS. Total and birth prevalence estimates were calculated per year and presented as 3-year moving averages. Results The total number of cases of DS increased from 113 in 1986 to 188 in 2004. The number of births declined over the first decade of the study, particularly in younger women, but total numbers have fluctuated between 45 and 60 births since 1996. In women under age 35 years, total prevalence was 10/10,000 until 1997 and then increased to 12.5/10,000. In older women, total prevalence increased from 70/10,000 to 90/10,000 in this time frame. Birth prevalence declined at first but remained relatively stable in the later years of the study. The proportion of cases diagnosed prenatally increased from 3% to 60% in younger women. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate the continuing need to devote resources to support individuals with DS and their families.
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ISSN:0022-3476
1097-6833
DOI:10.1016/j.jpeds.2007.07.045