Congenital heart disease and associated comorbidities among children with Down syndrome in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria

Introduction and Objectives: Congenital heart disease (CHD) in children with Down syndrome is a common association. This study aims to describe the pattern of CHD and associated co-morbidities seen in children with Down syndrome in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria. Materials and Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study conducted in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, during a cardiac mission. Children with phenotypic features suggestive of Down syndrome and a prior diagnosis of CHD had trans-thoracic echocardiogram performed by a team of paediatric cardiologists. The data were analyzed with STATA 14.0 Statistical package. Results: Thirty-five children with physical features suggestive of Down syndrome were seen, all of whom had CHD. They had a mean age of 5.8 months at diagnosis and 25.8 months at presentation. The most common heart defects detected were Atrioventricular septal defects in 28.6% of cases. The most common co-morbidity noted was heart failure in 17 (48.6%) of them followed by wasting in 15 (42.9%). Though 14 (40.0%) children were on a pulmonary vasodilator (sildenafil), only 5 (14.3%) children had features suggestive of pulmonary hypertension on echocardiography, all with atrioventricular septal defects (AVSD). Conclusion: AVSD is the most common CHD seen among children with Down syndrome in our study and is frequently associated with pulmonary hypertension.