Increasing incidence of congenital heart disease in patients with Down syndrome

Our impression that the incidence of congenital heart disease in patients with Down syndrome was increasing in our outpatient clinic was investigated. The change in the incidence of congenital heart disease was investigated during the period from January 1981 to December 1998 in 196 patients with Down syndrome diagnosed by chromosomal analysis. Of the 196 patients, 99 (50.5%) had congenital heart disease. The incidence increased during study period: 35.4% (1981–1983), 44.9% (1984–1986), 46.4% (1987–1989), 69.0% (1990–1992), 53.8% (1993–1995), and 81.3% (1996–1998). The number and the mean age of new outpatients were found to decrease. The incidence of Down syndrome patients whose disease was chromosomally proven by other institutions was increasing. The incidence of congenital heart disease in patients with Down syndrome is currently increasing in our outpatient clinic. However many factors might contribute to this phenomenon.