Title
Unchanged prevalence of Down syndrome in the Netherlands: Results from and 11-year nationwide birth cohort
Author
Gameren-Oosterom, H.B.M.
Buitenijk, S.E.
Bilardo, C.M.
van der Pal-de Bruin, K.M.
van Wouwe, J.P.
Mohangoo, A.D.
Publication year
2012
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate trends in prevalence of Down syndrome (DS) births in the Netherlands over an 11-year period and how they have been affected by maternal age and introduction of prenatal screening.METHOD: Nationwide data of an 11-year birth cohort (1997-2007) from the Netherlands Perinatal Registry were analyzed. First-trimester combined screening was introduced in 2002, free of charge only for women 36 years of age or older and only on patients' request. Changes in maternal age, prevalence of DS births, and rates of births at <24 weeks (legal limit for termination of pregnancy in the Netherlands) during the study period were evaluated using logistic and linear regression analyses. RESULTS: In total, 1 972 058 births were registered (91% of the births in 1997-2007). Mean prevalence of DS was 14.57 per 10 000 births (95% confidence interval 14.43; 14.73); 85% of DS were live births. No significant trend in overall prevalence of DS births was observed (p = 0.385), in spite of a significant increase of mean maternal age during the same period (p < 0.001). The increased prevalence of DS births at ≥24 weeks among women ≥36 years of age (p = 0.011) was offset by a significant increase in the proportion of DS births at <24 weeks among women aged <36 years (p = 0.013). CONCLUSION: The proportion of DS births in the Netherlands has not changed during the period 1997-2007.
Subject
Human
CH - Child Health
BSS - Behavioural and Societal Sciences
Healthy for Life
Health
Healthy Living
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:293eed4b-536c-4288-a314-414402082c3c
TNO identifier
462922
Source
Prenatal diagnosis, 32 (11), 1035-1040
Document type
article