Hospitalizations among people with Down syndrome: a nationwide population-based study in Denmark

A French nationwide study compared various conditions and healthcare use of individuals < 65 years with a Down's syndrome to those without

Few regular national clinical data are available for individuals with Down's syndrome (IDS) bearing in mind that they are subject to countries variations in medical termination of pregnancy and screening. Individuals < 65 in 2019 were selected in view of the low number of older IDS. Thus, 98% of 52.4 million people with correct data were included from the national health data system. IDS (35,342) were identified on the basis of the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision code (Q90). Risk ratios (RR) were calculated to compare the frequencies in 2019 between IDS and individual without Down's syndrome (IWDS) of use of health care. The prevalence of IDS was 0.07% (48% women), comorbidities were more frequent, especially in younger patients (24% < 1 year had another comorbidity, RR = 20), as was the percentage of deaths (4.6%, RR = 10). Overall, tumours were less frequent in IDS compared with IWDS (1.2%, RR = 0.7) except for certain leukaemias and testicular tumours (0.3%, RR = 4). Cardiac malformations (5.2%, RR = 52), dementia (1.2%, RR = 29), mental retardation (5%, RR = 21) and epilepsy (4%, RR = 9) were also more frequent in IDS. The most frequent hospital diagnoses for IDS were: aspiration pneumonia (0.7%, RR = 89), respiratory failure (0.4%, RR = 17), sleep apnoea (1.1%, RR = 8), cryptorchidism (0.3%, RR = 5.9), protein-energy malnutrition (0.1%, RR = 7), type 1 diabetes (0.2%, RR = 2.8) and hypothyroidism (0.1%, RR = 72). IDS were more likely to use emergency services (9%, RR = 2.4), short hospital stay (24%, RR = 1.6) or hospitalisation at home (0.6%, RR = 6). They consulted certain specialists two to three times more frequently than IWDS, for example cardiologists (17%, RR = 2.6). This study is the first detailed national study comparing IDS and non-IDS by age group. These results could help to optimize prenatal healthcare, medical and social support.

Adherence to CPAP therapy in Down syndrome: the population-based DISCOVERY study

STUDY OBJECTIVES

Persons with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) needing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), but data on the therapy and outcomes in this population are scarce. We aimed to compare patient characteristics and outcomes of CPAP treatment for patients with OSA with and without DS.

METHODS

This was a population-based, longitudinal study on patients initiating CPAP therapy between July 2010 and March 2018 in Sweden and a population-based sex- and age-matched control group (control:case ratio 5:1), with linked data from the Swedish National Patient Registry and the Prescribed Drug Registry (DISCOVERY study cohort).

RESULTS

Patients with DS (n = 64) had a higher apnea-hypopnea index (51.7 ± 30.3 vs 36.8 ± 29.1 events/h, P < .001), Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (13.7 ± 5.9 vs 11.0 ± 4.9, P = .001), rate of previous surgery of tonsils and/or adenoids (21.9% vs 8.2%, P = .001), and more thyroid replacement hormone therapy (45.3% vs 7.8%, P < .001), but lower use of cardiovascular drugs (7.8% vs 22.3%, P = .003) compared with controls. At follow-up after 1.3 ± 0.9 years, there were no differences in nocturnal CPAP usage time (5.6 ± 2.4 vs 5.5 ± 2.0 hours, P = .77), CPAP adherence ≥ 4 hours/night (62% vs 65%, P = .93), or improvement in Epworth Sleepiness Scale score (-5.4 ± 6.8 vs -5.0 ± 2.0, P = .84) between DS and non-DS patients.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA severity was substantially higher in patients with DS despite an increased rate of tonsil surgery. Treatment outcomes in terms of adherence and improved daytime sleepiness were comparable between groups, underlining the importance of both OSA diagnosis and treatment in patients with DS.

CITATION

Svensson M, Ekström M, Sundh J, Ljunggren M, Grote L, Palm A. Adherence to CPAP therapy in Down syndrome: the population-based DISCOVERY study. J Clin Sleep Med. 2023;19(3):453-458.

Is the first-trimester combined screening result associated with the phenotype of Down syndrome? A population-based cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate if the Down syndrome phenotype differs according to the result of first-trimester combined screening (FTS).

METHOD

We included all Down syndrome cases diagnosed by karyotype in pregnancy or after birth in Denmark during 2005-2018. We compared screen positive (odds ≥1:300) and screen negative (odds <1:300) cases as well as screen result subgroups with respect to anthropometrics, congenital malformations, childhood diseases, and hospitalization.

RESULTS

Absolute measures of fetal and birth anthropometrics were comparable between groups. A prenatal malformation diagnosis was more prevalent among screen positive than screen negative cases. Analyses suggested that this could reflect a detection bias. Cases with a screen result of 1:2-1:10 had a higher probability of being diagnosed with a malformation prenatally and with severe congenital heart disease (CHD) postnatally compared with a result of 1:11-1:300. Screen positive cases more often had non-severe CHD but less often a non-heart malformation compared with screen negative cases, while proportions of severe CHD were similar in these groups. Data on hospitalizations showed inconsistent results.

CONCLUSION

The 1:300 screening threshold had limited or no value in predicting Down syndrome phenotype severity. In contrast, cases with a screen result between 1:2 and 1:10 may represent a more severe phenotype.

Chronic diseases and comorbidities in adults with and without intellectual disabilities: comparative cross-sectional study in Dutch general practice

BACKGROUND

Chronic disease and comorbidity patterns in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) are more complex than in the general population. However, incomplete understanding of these differences limits care providers in addressing them.

OBJECTIVE

To compare chronic disease and comorbidity patterns in chronically ill patients with and without ID in Dutch general practice.

METHODS

In this population-based study, a multi-regional primary care database of 2018 was combined with national population data to improve identification of adults with ID. Prevalence was calculated using Poisson regression to estimate prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals for the highest-impact chronic diseases (ischemic heart disease (IHD), cerebrovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus (DM), and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)) and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Information from 18,114 people with ID and 1,093,995 people without ID was available. When considering age and sex, CVD (PR = 1.1), DM (PR = 1.6), and COPD (PR = 1.5) times more prevalent in people with than without ID. At younger age, people with ID more often had a chronic disease and multiple comorbidities. Males with ID most often had a chronic disease and multiple comorbidities. Comorbidities of circulatory nature were most common.

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified a younger onset of chronic illness and a higher prevalence of multiple comorbidities among people with ID in general practice than those without ID. This underlines the complexity of people with ID and chronic diseases in general practice. As this study confirmed the earlier onset of chronic diseases and comorbidities, it is recommended to acknowledge these age differences when following chronic disease guidelines.

Immune Dysregulation and the Increased Risk of Complications and Mortality Following Respiratory Tract Infections in Adults With Down Syndrome

The risk of severe outcomes following respiratory tract infections is significantly increased in individuals over 60 years, especially in those with chronic medical conditions, i.e., hypertension, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, dementia, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer. Down Syndrome (DS), the most prevalent intellectual disability, is caused by trisomy-21 in ~1:750 live births worldwide. Over the past few decades, a substantial body of evidence has accumulated, pointing at the occurrence of alterations, impairments, and subsequently dysfunction of the various components of the immune system in individuals with DS. This associates with increased vulnerability to respiratory tract infections in this population, such as the influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), and bacterial pneumonias. To emphasize this link, here we comprehensively review the immunobiology of DS and its contribution to higher susceptibility to severe illness and mortality from respiratory tract infections.

Characteristics of adults with Down syndrome hospitalised in Spanish internal medicine departments during 2005-2014

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

The clinical problems of adults with Down syndrome seem to differ from those of the general population. To better understand these differences, we list the demographic and clinical characteristics of adults with Down syndrome admitted to Spanish internal medicine departments during 2005-2014.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted an observational retrospective study using data collected from the minimum basic data set on hospitalisation episodes of adults with Down syndrome in the internal medicine departments of Spain's National Health System from 2005 to 2014. We analysed the patients' epidemiological, clinical and societal data.

RESULTS

A total of 7548 hospitalisation episodes from 3786 patients were recorded. Some 56.6% of the patients were male with a mean age (±SD) of 47±13 years, and 715 of the patients died (18.9%). The age-adjusted mortality was 26.6%, and the mean stay was 9.6±12 days. The hospitalisation was for respiratory disease in 3684 episodes (48.8%) and for cardiac origin in 760 (10%). The most common comorbidities were hypothyroidism (27.1%, 2043 episodes), epilepsy (24.1%, 1819 episodes) and dementia (15.4%, 1162 episodes).

CONCLUSIONS

The hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome in internal medicine departments has increased in the past decade. Although the reasons for hospitalisation, mean stay and cost per episode for this population are similar to those of the general population treated by internal medicine departments, the age-adjusted hospital mortality was significantly greater.

The direct health care cost to Medicare of Down syndrome dementia as compared with Alzheimer's disease among 2015 Californian beneficiaries

BACKGROUND

Aging individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of dementia due to trisomy of chromosome 21 on which the amyloid precursor protein gene is located and with increased life expectancy. Yet, little is known about the costs associated with DS dementia and how this compares to Alzheimer's disease (AD).

OBJECTIVE

To better understand direct healthcare costs and care consumption in DS dementia, we compared the total cost of care to US Medicare and the drivers of these medical expenditures in individuals with DS with and without dementia, and in those with AD without DS.

METHODS

The effect of dementia in DS on costs and care utilization was estimated with 2015 California Medicare fee-for-service data (parts A and B). Among 3,001,977 Californian Medicare beneficiaries, 353 individuals had DS with dementia (age 45-89 years). We compared their number of chronic comorbidity conditions among 27 and their care and Medicare costs to those of age- and sex-matched individuals with DS without dementia and those with AD without DS.

RESULTS

Medicare annual cost per beneficiary was a mean of 43.5% and 82.2% higher with DS dementia (mean $35,011) than DS without dementia (mean $24,401) and AD without dementia (mean $19,212), related to greater utilization of inpatient services. DS dementia was associated with increased level of multimorbidity (mean of 3.4 conditions in addition to dementia vs. 2.7 and 2.2 conditions for DS without dementia and AD, respectively), with more emergency room visits (88% vs. 76.5% and 54.4%) and with more primary care physician visits (91.2% vs. 87.3% and 81.3%).

CONCLUSION

DS adults with dementia have higher health care costs than DS adults without dementia and adults with AD. Understanding costs and complex health care needs in DS dementia could facilitate management of adult and geriatric care resources for these high-need high-cost individuals.

Health care utilisation among older people with Down syndrome compared to specific medical guidelines for health surveillance: a Swedish national register study

BACKGROUND

Specific medical guidelines for health surveillance exist for people with Down syndrome (DS) since 25 years but knowledge of adherence to the guidelines is lacking. The guidelines were developed to avoid unnecessary suffering from preventable conditions. The aims of the study were to investigate 1) planned health care visits in relation to the co-morbidities described in specific medical guidelines as a measure of adherence, 2) unplanned health care visits as a measure of potentially unmet health care needs and 3) gender differences in health care utilisation among older people with DS.

METHODS

This register-based study includes people with DS (n = 472) from a Swedish national cohort of people with intellectual disability (n = 7936), aged 55 years or more, and with at least one support according to the disability law, in 2012. Data on inpatient and outpatient specialist health care utilisation were collected from the National Patient Register for 2002-2012.

RESULTS

A total of 3854 inpatient and outpatient specialist health care visits were recorded during the 11 years, of which 54.6% (n = 2103) were planned, 44.0% (n = 1695) unplanned and 1.4% (n = 56) lacked information. More than half of the visits, 67.0% (n = 2582) were outpatient health care thus inpatient 33% (n = 1272). Most planned visits (29.4%, n = 618) were to an ophthalmology clinic, and most unplanned visits to an internal medicine clinic (36.6%, n = 621). The most common cause for planned visits was cataract, found at least once for 32.8% in this cohort, followed by arthrosis (8.9%), epilepsy (8.9%) and dementia (6.6%). Pneumonia, pain, fractures and epilepsy each accounted for at least one unplanned visit for approximately one-fourth of the population (27.1, 26.9, 26.3 and 19.7% respectively). Men and women had similar numbers of unplanned visits. However, women were more likely to have visits for epilepsy or fractures, and men more likely for pneumonia.

CONCLUSIONS

Increased awareness of existing specific medical guidelines for people with DS is vital for preventive measures. The relatively few planned health care visits according to the medical guidelines together with a high number of unplanned visits caused by conditions which potentially can be prevented suggest a need of improved adherence to medical guidelines.

Birth incidence, deaths and hospitalisations of children and young people with Down syndrome, 1990-2015: birth cohort study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate current Down syndrome live birth and death rates, and childhood hospitalisations, compared with peers.

SETTING

General community.

PARTICIPANTS

All live births with Down syndrome, 1990-2015, identified via Scottish regional cytogenetic laboratories, each age-sex-neighbourhood deprivation matched with five non-Down syndrome controls. Record linkage to Scotland's hospital admissions and death data.

PRIMARY OUTCOME

HRs comparing risk of first hospitalisation (any and emergency), readmission for children with Down syndrome and matched controls were calculated using stratified Cox proportional hazards (PH) model, and length of hospital stay was calculated using a conditional log-linear regression model.

RESULTS

689/1479 (46.6%) female and 769/1479 (51.9%) male children/young people with Down syndrome were identified (1.0/1000 births, with no reduction over time); 1235 were matched. 92/1235 (7.4%) died during the period, 18.5 times more than controls. More of the Down syndrome group had at least one admission (incidence rate ratio(IRR) 72.89 (68.72-77.32) vs 40.51 (39.15-41.92); adjusted HR=1.84 (1.68, 2.01)) and readmissions (IRR 54.85 (51.46-58.46) vs 15.06 (14.36-15.80); adjusted HR=2.56 (2.08, 3.14)). More of their admissions were emergencies (IRR 56.78 (53.13-60.72) vs 28.88 (27.73-30.07); first emergency admission adjusted HR=2.87 (2.61, 3.15)). Children with Down syndrome had 28% longer first admission after birth. Admission rate increased from 1990-2003 to 2004-2014 for the Down syndrome group (from 90.7% to 92.2%) and decreased for controls (from 63.3% to 44.8%).

CONCLUSIONS

We provide contemporaneous statistics on the live birth rate of babies with Down syndrome, and their childhood death rate. They require more hospital admissions, readmissions emergency admissions and longer lengths of stays than their peers, which has received scant research attention in the past. This demonstrates the importance of statutory planning as well as informal support to families to avoid added problems in child development and family bonding over and above that brought by the intellectual disabilities associated with Down syndrome.

Hospitalisation of adults with Down syndrome: lesson from a 10-year experience from a community hospital

BACKGROUND

Life expectancy of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) has improved significantly over the past decades. However, there are sparse data documenting the co-morbidities and hospitalisation of adult patients with DS in the literature. The aim of this study was to characterise the co-morbidities and pattern of hospitalisation in adult patients with DS during a 10-year period at the community hospital as well as to compare hospitalisation parameters with the general adult population during the same years.

METHOD

We reviewed the medical records of 81 hospitalisations from 37 patients with DS aged 21 to 68 years at Metrowest Medical Center during a 10-year period and compared with those of the general adult population during the same time. Co-morbidities were also described.

RESULTS

Adults with DS had a mean age at admission of 48.6 ± 8.8 years with the median length of stay of 3 days (interquartile range 4 days). Male patients were hospitalised longer than female patients (mean 5.0 vs. 2.8 days; P < 0.05), and patients who lived at home were admitted at earlier ages than those who came from residential healthcare facility (mean 41.5 vs. 52.2 years; P < 0.001). The most common cause of hospitalisation was pneumonia/aspiration syndrome (29.6%), and the most common co-morbidity was gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)/dysphagia (70.3%). Presence of GERD/dysphagia or seizure disorder was significantly associated with multiple admission and readmission within 1 month (P < 0.05). The mortality rate was 4.9%, and the rate of intensive care unit admission was 8.6%.

CONCLUSIONS

Our cohort did not show statistically significant different hospitalisation parameters such as inpatient mortality and average length of stay when compared with general adult population hospitalised at the same years. The care of adult patients with DS presents challenges in internal medicine due to its unique co-morbid profile and signifies the importance of multidisciplinary approach. In order to improve the care of this patient population, their co-morbidities, particularly GERD/dysphagia and seizure disorder, should be optimally managed and comprehensively addressed when patients are hospitalised.

Late mortality and morbidity among long-term leukemia survivors with Down syndrome: A nationwide population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND

Late health consequences of treatment for childhood leukemia are well documented. Although individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have a substantially increased risk of leukemia, information on late effects in this group is almost nonexistent. The aim of this study was to evaluate the mortality and morbidity among 5-year leukemia survivors with DS.

PROCEDURE

We compared 5-year leukemia survivors with leukemia-free individuals with DS. All individuals born with DS in Denmark between 1960 and 2007 and in Sweden between 1973 and 2009 were included. Long-term morbidity was estimated by comparing hospitalization rates between survivors and leukemia-free individuals.

RESULTS

In total, we found 6,705 individuals with DS, 84 of whom were 5-year survivors of leukemia. Survivors had a higher risk of death (hazard ratio [HR] 5.9; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.7-13) compared with leukemia-free individuals. All deaths (n = 7) among 5-year leukemia survivors were due to relapse. Survivors had a higher hospitalization rate (HR 4.4; 95% CI: 3.1-6.2). However, most of these hospitalizations were due to relapse. Censoring individuals who either had a relapse or were being treated for a relapse more than 5 years from the initial diagnosis (n = 9) attenuated the association (HR 1.4; 95% CI: 1.0-2.1).

CONCLUSION

In this study, we found that relapse was the main reason for death and hospitalization among leukemia survivors with DS, and not late effects. These results are reassuring for individuals treated for DS associated with leukemia and their parents.

Rate and characteristics of urgent hospitalisation in persons with profound intellectual disabilities compared with general population

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the hospitalisation rate of adults with severe/profound intellectual disability (PID) presenting at emergency services or about the appropriateness of hospital admissions in this population. Examining the possible differences in the patterns of hospitalisation between people with PID and those without intellectual disability (ID) may shed light on aspects of health and illness in these patients and may in turn make it possible to differentiate more clearly between mild-moderate ID and PID.

METHODS

After an evaluation of the emergency visits made by adults with PID and by people without ID, patients in both groups requiring one or more hospitalisations were subsequently followed up for 18 months. The appropriateness of the decision to hospitalise was assessed using the ambulatory care-sensitive conditions index.

RESULTS

There were no differences in the proportion of people with PID and controls admitted to hospital after their emergency visit. The median hospital stay was higher for PIDs: 7.5 vs. 4 days for controls. People with PID were admitted more than controls for respiratory reasons and somewhat less for other somatic causes unrelated to the nervous system. There were no admissions for psychiatric causes in the group with PID other than unspecified conduct disorders. There were no differences in other diagnostic groups. The rate of inappropriate admissions was similar in the two study groups.

CONCLUSIONS

In contrast to previous results reported for the group with ID as a whole, patients with PID consulting the emergency service were not admitted to hospital more frequently than the general population nor did they present a higher rate of inappropriate admissions. These results support the utility of maintaining two distinct groups of people with ID: mild-moderate and severe-profound.

Long-term sequelae in survivors of childhood leukemia with Down syndrome: A childhood cancer survivor study report

BACKGROUND

Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk of developing acute leukemia and are more prone to acute toxicities. We studied the incidence and severity of chronic health conditions among survivors of childhood leukemia with DS compared with those without DS.

METHODS

Chronic health conditions reported by questionnaire were compared between 154 pediatric leukemia survivors with DS and 581 without DS, matched by leukemia, age at diagnosis, race/ethnicity, sex, radiation location and chemotherapy exposure using Cox models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Subjects were selected from 7139 5-year survivors of leukemia in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.

RESULTS

Risk of at least 1 late onset chronic health condition (grade 1-5) was similar in the DS population compared with the non-DS group (HR, 1.1; 95% CI, 0.7-1.5). Serious chronic health conditions (grade 3-5) were more common in DS survivors (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.1-2.6), as were ≥ 3 chronic health conditions (grades 1-5) (HR, 1.7; 95% CI, 1.2-2.4). The 25-year cumulative incidence of any condition (grades 1-5) was 83% for DS survivors and 69% for non-DS survivors.

CONCLUSION

Leukemia survivors with DS have therapy-related chronic health conditions comparable to those of similarly treated survivors without DS, with a few notable exceptions: 1) an increased risk of cataracts, hearing loss, and thyroid dysfunction compared with survivors without DS (though these are known risks in the DS population), 2) decreased risk of second cancers, and 3) increased risk of severe or multiple conditions. Practitioners should be aware of these risks during and after therapy. Cancer 2018;124:617-25. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

A Retrospective, Longitudinal, Claims-Based Comparison of Concomitant Diagnoses Between Individuals with and Without Down Syndrome

BACKGROUND

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) experience various comorbidities in excess of the prevalence seen among the non-DS population. However, the extent of the excess burden of comorbidities specifically within commercially and publicly insured DS populations aged < 21 years is not currently known.

OBJECTIVES

To (a) describe the most common diagnoses among individuals with DS who have either commercial or Medicaid insurance and (b) compare the prevalence of those diagnoses between DS cases and non-DS controls.

METHODS

This was a longitudinal, retrospective study using health care claims of commercially insured and Medicaid-insured individuals in the Truven Health MarketScan Databases from 2008 to 2015. Individuals aged < 2, 2-5, 6-11, and 12-20 years with a DS diagnosis (cases; commercial: n = 15,948; Medicaid: n = 11,958) were matched to individuals without DS (controls; commercial: n = 47,844; Medicaid: n = 35,874) using a 1:3 ratio. The annual number of diagnoses was compared between cases and controls within age groups using t-tests, and the prevalence of the most common diagnoses was compared using chi-square tests.

RESULTS

Cases in all age groups in both databases had more diagnoses annually than controls (mean =9-17 per year vs. 4-10 per year, P < 0.001), and the number of diagnoses decreased with age for cases and controls. Among the most common case diagnoses were upper respiratory infections (28.9%-59.1% vs. 19.5%-52.9%); suppurative otitis media (25.1%-56.8% vs. 8.7%-51.2%); nutrition/metabolic/developmental symptoms (37.9%-50.4% vs. 7.7%-10.6%); delays in development (22.8%-52.8% vs. 4.1%-10.9%); and general symptoms (35.1%-47.2% vs. 22.1%-37.2%), and the prevalence of each was greater among cases versus controls in all age groups in both databases (P < 0.001). The most common diagnoses among controls included some of the same as among cases, as well as acute pharyngitis (18.7%-31.8% vs. 19.2%-30.5%); allergic rhinitis (19.9%-24.3% vs. 15.3%-20.7%); viral/chlamydial infections (24.2%-26.6% vs. 17.7%-23.5%); and joint disorders (11.6% vs. 16.6%), and most were significantly more prevalent among cases (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Commercially insured and Medicaid-insured individuals aged < 21 years with DS experience a greater number and prevalence of concomitant diagnoses compared with non-DS individuals. Awareness of these common diagnoses could help facilitate the optimal care of these individuals by the pediatric health care community.

DISCLOSURES

This study was sponsored and funded by Genentech. Truven Health Analytics, an IBM Company, receives payment from Genentech to conduct research, including the research for this study. Truven Health Analytics also receives payment from other pharmaceutical companies to conduct research. Kong and Evans are employed by Truven Health Analytics. Csoboth is employed by Genentech. Brixner reports fees paid to the University of Utah by Truven Health Analytics on her behalf for work related to this study. Hurley reports fees from Genentech for work on this study and for work outside of this study. At the time of this study, Visootsak was employed by F. Hoffman-LaRoche Pharmaceuticals, parent company of Genentech. All authors, including those affiliated with the study sponsor, were involved in the design of the study, interpretation of the data, writing of the manuscript, and the decision to submit the manuscript for publication. Study concept and design were contributed by Kong, Hurley, and Brixner, along with Evans. Kong and Evans collected the data, and data interpretation was performed by Csoboth, Visootsak, Brixner, and Hurley, with assistance from Kong. The manuscript was written by Evans, Kong, Hurley, and Brixner and revised by Kong, Hurley, Evans, and Brixner, with assistance from Csoboth and Visootsak.

Health care utilisation among older persons with intellectual disability and dementia: a registry study

BACKGROUND

Both persons with intellectual disability (ID) and persons with dementia have high disease burdens, and consequently also high health care needs. As life expectancy increases for persons with ID, the group of persons with the dual diagnosis of ID and dementia will become larger.

METHOD

Through national registries, we identified 7936 persons who had received support directed to persons with ID during 2012, and an age- and gender-matched sample from the general population. A national registry was also used to collect information on health care utilisation (excluding primary care) for the period 2002-2012. Health care utilisation was measured as presence and number of planned and unplanned in-patient and out-patient visits, as well as length of stay.

RESULTS

In comparison with persons with ID but without dementia, persons with ID and dementia were more likely to have at least one planned out-patient visit (odds ratio [OR] 8.07), unplanned out-patient visit (OR 2.41), planned in-patient visit (OR 2.76) or unplanned in-patient visit (OR 4.19). However, among those with at least one of each respective outcome, the average number of visits did not differ between those with and without dementia. Persons with ID and dementia were less likely to have at least one planned out-patient visit than persons with dementia in the general population sample (OR 0.40), but more likely to have at least one unplanned in-patient visit (OR 1.90). No statistically significant differences were found for having at least one unplanned out-patient or planned in-patient visit. Nevertheless, among those with at least one unplanned out-patient visit, the number of visits was higher in the general population sample.

CONCLUSIONS

Persons with ID and dementia are less likely to receive planned health care than persons with dementia in the general population. They have, however, higher levels of unplanned health care utilisation. This may be an indication that the current support system is not sufficient to meet the challenges of increased longevity among persons with ID.

Hospitalisation in adults with intellectual disabilities compared with the general population in Norway

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have found that adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are hospitalised more often than the general population (GP). This study investigates hospital discharge rates and main diagnostic causes for hospitalisation among administratively defined people with ID compared with the GP in Norway.

METHOD

Data from the Norwegian Labour and Welfare Service was combined with data from the Norwegian Patient Register (N_total  = 1 764 072 and N_ID  = 7573) for the period 2008-2011. Data from a Norwegian patient report generator and Statistics Norway are also analysed.

RESULTS

During the study period, 11% of people with ID and 11.5% of the GP were admitted to hospitals. The length of the average hospital stay was just over 4 days for both groups. Among those who were hospitalised, the majority were only admitted to hospital once during the study period: ID 66% and GP 70%. People with ID were admitted somewhat more often than people in the GP. Contrary to the GP, adults with ID were more frequently hospitalised at a younger age and less frequently at old age. The most common International Classification of Diseases diagnostic group for hospitalisation among people with ID is injury, poisoning and certain other consequences of external causes, whereas for the GP, it is diseases of the circulatory system.

CONCLUSION

This study finds that the proportion of people being hospitalised per year is statistically, but only slightly, different among adult people with ID and the GP. The results must be interpreted in light of the organisation of the health care system in Norway.

Morbidity and medication in a large population of individuals with Down syndrome compared to the general population

AIM

The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of morbidities and the prevalence of medical prescriptions in a large Down syndrome population.

METHOD

A retrospective cohort study was carried out using the UK Clinical Practice Research Datalink from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2013. We matched individuals with Down syndrome to randomly selected control participants by practice site, sex, birth year, and recording period.

RESULTS

A total of 6430 individuals with Down syndrome (3009 females, 3421 males) and 19 176 controls (8966 females, 10,210 males) were included in the study. The incidence of cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal diseases (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 7.9 at 3 to <6y: yearly prevalence ratio [YPR] for laxatives 4.7), and sleeping disorders (IRR 4.8 in 3 to <6y) was increased in children with Down syndrome versus control participants. New onset of congenital heart malformation, ear diseases, eye disorders, autism, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and obesity were more frequent in childhood and remained elevated in adulthood (overall IRR 35.5, 1.7, 3.1, 4.4, 13.1, 1.3, and 2.6 respectively), whereas the gap widened in adulthood for epilepsy and intellectual disability (IRR 15.2 and 158 respectively, in participants older than 30y). At ≥ 30 years, the incidence of hypotension and dementia was raised (IRR 3.0 and 92.1 respectively; YPR for dementia drugs: 76.3); and that of hypertension, depression and anxiety was lowered (IRR 0.2, 0.5, and 0.4 respectively).

INTERPRETATION

The profile of newly occurring morbidities in Down syndrome varies across the developmental lifespan.

[Hospital morbidity and mortality in children with Down's syndrome: Experience in a university hospital in Chile]

INTRODUCTION

Children with Down's syndrome (DS) have a higher risk of congenital malformations and acute diseases, with increased risk of hospital admissions compared with the general population. This study describes patterns of hospital admissions for children and adolescents with DS.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A retrospective study of hospital admissions of children with DS, younger than 15 years old, and cared for by the Paediatric Department of the Hospital Clínico Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, between 2008 and 2011.

RESULTS

There were 222 admissions of 161 patients with DS during the study period, of which 110 were girls. The median age was 8 months, and the median hospital stay was 6 days. Just over half (56.7%) of the hospital stays were in the Paediatric Critic Care Unit. Heart surgery was performed on 59.4%, and the principal congenital heart defect attended was atrioventricular canal. The principal diagnosis, other than heart surgery, was lower respiratory tract infection. In this series, 3 children died.

CONCLUSIONS

Children with DS are a relevant group for inpatient care, because their high incidence in Chile, their respiratory and cardiovascular risk, prolonged hospitalizations, high frequency of critical care days and mortality risk. This group has special and complex needs during their hospitalizations and it is necessary to create a multidisciplinary team with competences to take care the particular characteristics of this vulnerable group.

Clinical profile and main comorbidities of Spanish adults with Down syndrome

BACKGROUND

The life expectancy of adults with Down syndrome (DS) has significantly increased in the last decades. We aim to describe the main demographic and clinical characteristics of a cohort of adults with DS, and analyse their differences according to age and gender groups.

METHODS

Cross-sectional study of 144 adults with DS from the outpatient clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Madrid, Spain, recruited between February 2012 and March 2013. Demographic data (age, gender, living situation, caregivers, and working situation), clinical conditions, prior medications, and laboratory data were measured and compared between groups.

RESULTS

Adults with DS were 35±12 years old (range 17-65), and 51% were males. Most subjects lived with their families (112, 78%), and parents were the main caregivers in 73% of cases. However, older adults with DS lived more frequently in residential facilities. Each subject presented an average of 5±2 clinical problems. Eye (117 adults, 81%), skin (86, 60%), thyroid (81, 56%), gastrointestinal (73, 51%), and psychopathological disorders (58, 40%) were amongst the most frequent clinical conditions of adults with DS. Cataracts (14, 61%), keratoconus (4, 17%), dementia (11, 48%), and seizures (6, 26%) were more frequent amongst individuals with DS over 50 years (p<0.001 for the comparisons). No relevant differences were found between genders. The medications most frequently prescribed were levothyroxine (70 subjects, 48.6%), vitamin D (50, 34.7%), antidepressants (32, 22%), and antipsychotics (31, 21.5%).

CONCLUSIONS

Adults with DS present a wide spectrum of potentially treatable medical conditions, making specially-trained multidisciplinary teams a dire need for this population.

Special needs dentistry: perception, attitudes and educational experience of Malaysian dental students

A compromised oral health condition amongst patients with special health care needs (SHCN) has been associated with the reluctance and shortage of skills of dental professionals in managing such patients. Lack of training and experience at the undergraduate level are reported barriers to the provision of care for this patient cohort. Undergraduate education therefore, plays an important role in producing professionals with the knowledge, skills and positive attitude in treating patients with SHCN. This study aims to determine the level of knowledge, comfort and attitudes of Malaysian undergraduate dental students towards caring for patients with SHCN, as well as their perception on education in this field. A self-administered questionnaire was administered in the classroom style to final year undergraduate dental students in Malaysian public dental schools. Most students were aware of Special Needs Dentistry (SND) as a specialty after being informed by academic staff. The majority of the students demonstrated poor knowledge in defining SND and felt uncomfortable providing care for such patients. They perceived their undergraduate training in SND as inadequate with most students agreeing that they should receive didactic and clinical training at undergraduate level. A high percentage of students also expressed interest in pursuing postgraduate education in this area of dentistry despite the lack of educational exposure during undergraduate years. The study supports a need for educational reform to formulate a curriculum that is more patient-centred, with earlier clinical exposure in various clinical settings for students to treat patients with special health care needs, applying the concept of holistic care in a variable clinical condition.

Hospitalizations and associated costs in a population-based study of children with Down syndrome born in Florida

BACKGROUND

Our objective was to examine differences in hospital resource usage for children with Down syndrome by age and the presence of other birth defects, particularly severe and nonsevere congenital heart defects (CHDs).

METHODS

This was a retrospective, population-based, statewide study of children with Down syndrome born 1998 to 2007, identified by the Florida Birth Defects Registry (FBDR) and linked to hospital discharge records for 1 to 10 years after birth. To evaluate hospital resource usage, descriptive statistics on number of hospitalized days and hospital costs were calculated. Results were stratified by isolated Down syndrome (no other coded major birth defect); presence of severe and nonsevere CHDs; and presence of major FBDR-eligible birth defects without CHDs.

RESULTS

For 2552 children with Down syndrome, there were 6856 inpatient admissions, of which 68.9% occurred during the first year of life (infancy). Of the 2552 children, 31.7% (n = 808) had isolated Down syndrome, 24.0% (n = 612) had severe CHDs, 36.3% (n = 927) had nonsevere CHDs, and 8.0% (n = 205) had a major FBDR-eligible birth defect in the absence of CHD. Infants in all three nonisolated DS groups had significantly higher hospital costs compared with those with isolated Down syndrome. From infancy through age 4, children with severe CHDs had the highest inpatient costs compared with children in the other sub-groups.

CONCLUSION

Results support findings that for children with Down syndrome the presence of other anomalies influences hospital use and costs, and children with severe CHDs have greater hospital resource usage than children with other CHDs or major birth defects without CHDs.

Social conditions for people with Down syndrome: a register-based cohort study in Denmark

Today, most persons with Down syndrome (DS) survive into middle age, but information on their social conditions as adults is limited. We addressed this knowledge gap using data from national registers in Denmark. We identified a national cohort of 1,998 persons with DS who were born between 1968 and 2007 (1,852 with standard trisomy 21, 80 with Robertsonian translocations and 66 with mosaicism) using the Danish Cytogenetic Register. We followed this cohort from 1980 to 2007. Information on social conditions (education, employment, source of income, marital status, etc.) was obtained by linkages to national registers, including the Integrated Database for Longitudinal Labor Market Research. For those aged 18 and older, more than 80% of persons with DS attended 10 years of primary school, with about 2% completing secondary or post-secondary education. About 4% obtained a full-time job, whereas the remaining mainly received public support from the government. Only a few (1-2%) of persons with DS were married or had a child. No significant differences in these social conditions were seen between males and females. More persons with mosaic DS attended secondary or post-secondary education, had a full-time job, were married, or had a child (18%, 28%, 15%, and 7%, respectively), compared with persons with standard DS (1%, 2%, 1%, and 1%, respectively). These data may provide families with better insight into social conditions and society with a better understanding of the social support needed for persons with DS.