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Individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19 have more severe disease

Louise Malle1,2,3,4, Cynthia Gao5, Chin Hur6

  • 1Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA.

Genetics in Medicine : Official Journal of the American College of Medical Genetics
|October 16, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) hospitalized with COVID-19 were younger and experienced more severe illness, including sepsis and need for mechanical ventilation, compared to controls. This highlights the need for specialized care for COVID-19 in DS patients.

Area of Science:

  • Genetics and Genomics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Down syndrome (DS) is a rare genetic condition often understudied, with infections posing a significant mortality risk.
  • Cardiac anomalies are also a leading cause of mortality in individuals with DS.
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on individuals with DS remains largely unknown.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To analyze the characteristics and outcomes of individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19.
  • To compare hospitalization rates, clinical features, and outcomes of COVID-19 patients with and without DS.
  • To understand the specific vulnerabilities of the DS population during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective, dual-center study was conducted.
  • Data from 7246 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 were analyzed.
  • 12 patients with Down syndrome were identified and compared to controls.

Main Results:

  • Individuals with DS hospitalized for COVID-19 were, on average, ten years younger than patients without DS.
  • Patients with DS exhibited more severe COVID-19 disease compared to controls.
  • Increased incidence of sepsis and need for mechanical ventilation were observed in hospitalized patients with DS.

Conclusions:

  • Individuals with Down syndrome hospitalized with COVID-19 present with younger age and more severe disease than age-matched controls.
  • These findings underscore the need for tailored prevention and treatment strategies for COVID-19 in the DS population.
  • Further research and clinical attention are warranted to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with DS during infectious disease outbreaks.
Abstract

Keywords:
COVID-19Down syndromeSARS-CoV-2primary immunodeficiencytrisomy 21

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