Growth charts of Egyptian children with Down syndrome (0-36 months)

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Genetics
• Growth and Development

Background:

• Down syndrome is a genetic disorder associated with developmental delays and distinct physical characteristics.
• Growth patterns in children with Down syndrome often deviate from typical development, necessitating specific monitoring.
• Congenital heart disease is a common comorbidity in Down syndrome, potentially influencing overall health and growth.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative growth and growth velocity curves for weight, length, and head circumference in Egyptian children with Down syndrome.
• To compare growth parameters between children with Down syndrome and healthy controls.
• To investigate the impact of congenital heart disease on growth in Down syndrome.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study involving 350 Egyptian children (188 males, 162 females) aged 0-36 months diagnosed with Down syndrome.
• Collection of anthropometric data including weight, length, and head circumference.
• Statistical analysis to establish growth curves and compare subgroups (e.g., with/without congenital heart disease, by sex).

Main Results:

• Children with Down syndrome demonstrated poorer growth variables compared to healthy children in the first three years of life.
• Down syndrome children with congenital heart disease showed significantly lower weight, especially females, than those without heart disease.
• Growth velocity differed by sex: in the first two years, Down syndrome females had higher velocity for weight and head circumference, while males had higher velocity for length.
• Down syndrome boys exhibited slightly higher length velocity than normal children during the first three years.

Conclusions:

• The study provides essential growth references for Egyptian children with Down syndrome.
• Congenital heart disease is a significant factor negatively affecting weight in children with Down syndrome.
• Sex-based differences in growth velocity exist in Down syndrome during early childhood, with potential implications for monitoring and intervention.