Queen Mary Univesrsity of London

Academic Institute

Joan Morris

nnrd47

Each year over 60,000 babies are admitted to a neonatal unit. Over 650 babies with Down Syndrome are born every year1, of whom 5% are born at 32 weeks’ gestation or less and are likely to be admitted to a neonatal unit (personal communication, Morris). Over 40% of babies with Down syndrome have a major cardiac anomaly 2-6, hypotonia and other problems 7,8 which increase the likelihood of being admitted to a neonatal unit and are associated with feeding difficulties and the likelihood of acquiring infections. It is therefore important to know what proportion of Down syndrome babies are admitted to a neonatal unit according to gestational age, the treatments they require, and their outcomes in comparison with unaffected children of similar gestational age. This study aims to investigate if newborn babies with Down syndrome require different management strategies in neonatal units compared with unaffected babies of similar gestations and to compare their outcomes on discharge

This study will quantify the problems that children with Down syndrome may face in the first few weeks of life. Such information is important for both parents and health professionals caring for these children.

REC reference: 13/SC/0124

Anonymous

Release