Babies Born With Down Syndrome Have Lesser Risk Of Developing Heart Problems

Risk for developing heart problems has declined for babies born with Down syndrome. This is based on a study of almost 2,600 babies born with Down syndrome in Sweden between 1992 and 2012 that were tracked for congenital heart defects.

The study from the Karolinska Institutet revealed that the risk for complicated heart defects of the babies became significantly lower throughout the study period. This happened even if half of the babies with Down syndrome were born with a congenital heart defect. 

Karolinska identifies compared with early '90s Downs babies have lower risk of developing serious heart problems. https://t.co/pX7pWwmH8J

— Children's Heart Fed (@CHFed) June 2, 2016

Decline In Serious Heart Problems By 40 Percent

The study, which was published in the journal Pediatrics, showed that the risk for congenital heart defects in babies born with Down syndrome in 2010 to 2012 declined by almost 40 percent when compared with the risks in 1992 to 1994. The authors said that the year of birth did not show a connection with risk for congenital heart defects.

"We also observed a shift in incidence ratios, with the decrease in complicated heart defects being matched by an increase in less severe heart defects," said Stefan Johansson, one of the study's authors, as per Medical Xpress. Johansson also said that they observed an increase in less serious heart defects for babies born with Down syndrome.

Diagnosing The Fetus For Heart Problems

According to Reliawire, the decline in risks for serious heart problems in babies born with Down syndrome may be linked to diagnosis in the fetal stage. Parents are said to have their unborn baby checked for chromosome abnormalities if an ultrasound shows that the baby has a heart defect.

After the test for chromosome abnormalities, the fetus may be diagnosed with Down syndrome. The parents may then choose to end the pregnancy. In the journal Pediatrics, the authors said that most fetuses in Sweden that are diagnosed with Down syndrome are aborted.