Congenital Anomalies in Down Syndrome Among Qatari Population

Abstract

Down Syndrome (DS) is the major cause of mental retardation and congenital heart disease affecting the welfare of over 300,000 individuals and their families in USA. The aim of the study is to see which are the most common congenital anomalies associates with Down syndrome in Qatar. Retrospective study performed at Hamad Medical Corporation in Qatar. Data collected from files in the Medical Records over a three and half years from 15/1/2000 to 7/8/2003. Eighty- four cases where all the cases according to a list of trisomy 21 babies taken from the Cytogenetics lab. By reviewing the congenital anomalies associated with Down Syndrome in all these cases, statistical analysis showed high incidence of Down Syndrome 55.7% of the babies in this study had at least one of the heart defects and 19.23 % showed a combination of two cardiac anomalies. In addition, Hypothyroidism was the most common type of both endocrine 46.15 % and thyroid problems and a little proportion of the gastrointestinal tract abnormalities 21.79 % had been reported. Six percent of Down Syndrome babies died in less than 8 months of life.