Korean J Perinatol.  1999 Sep;10(3):338-344.

Survival Analysis of the Children with Down Syndrome

• Kim JS
• Kim IK
• Kang JS
• Lee EK
• Kim BK
• Lee KH
• Kim SJ
• Kang HG
• Kay CW
• Ahn HJ

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
To determine the life expectancy and causes of death of the children with Down syndrome(DS), longitudinal follow-up study was done for 29 cases of DS who were born at CHA hospital located in Seoul During the period from July 1991 to Dec. 1994.
METHODS
29 cases were divided into groups according to the presence of congenital heart disease (CHD) and leukemia. CHD group was subdivided into DS with complete AVSD(atrioventricular septal defect) and DS without complete AVSD. Survival curves were calculated by kaplan-Meier product limit method. Each group were compared by log rank test. The factors affecting mortality rate were analyzed by Cox's proportional hazard regressional model.
RESULTS
There were no statistical differences in mortality rate between groups with CHD(35.3%) and without CHD(33.3%)(p=0.7373). Statistical difference was not observed between CHD subgroups with AVSD and with CHD other than AVSD. There were significant statistical difference in mortality rate between groups with leukemia and without leukemia(p=0.0001).
CONCLUSION
The factor affecting mortality rate of DS was the presence of leukemia regardless of presence of CHD in our study cases with DS.

MeSH Terms

Cause of Death
Child*
Down Syndrome*
Follow-Up Studies
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Kaplan-Meier Estimate
Leukemia
Life Expectancy
Mortality
Seoul
Survival Analysis*