Abstract
Introduction Neonates with Down syndrome (nDS) have multiple medical issues that may place them
at an increased risk of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). The goal of this study was
to determine the incidence, characteristics, and outcomes of nDS patients that developed
NEC.
Methods Data from the Pediatric Health Information Systems database on all nDS were reviewed.
Demographics, medical conditions, development of NEC, and mortality were recorded.
Patients were divided into nDS patients who developed NEC (nDS-NEC) versus nDS patients
who did not develop NEC (nDS-nNEC).
Results Incidence of NEC in nDS patients was 6.6% (381/5,737). Baseline demographic data
indicated nDS-NEC patients were more likely to be born earlier, have a diagnosis of
congenital diaphragmatic hernia, ventricular septal defect, patent ductus arteriosus,
Ebstein's anomaly, or a left-sided obstructive lesion versus nDS-nNEC patients. The
odds ratio for death in the nDS-NEC patients was 2.5 (95% confidence interval, 1.8–3.3)
versus the nDS-NEC patients.
Conclusion The incidence of NEC in nDS patients requiring admission to a children's hospital
after birth is much higher than that reported for term infants. Baseline characteristics
differ in nDS patients that may place them at a higher risk for NEC. nDS-NEC patients
have an increased morbidity and a significantly higher mortality compared with the
nDS-nNEC patients.
Keywords
necrotizing enterocolitis - Down syndrome - neonatal
