Trisomy 18 Trends over the Last 20 Years

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Genetics
• Medical Interventions

Background:

• Trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome) is a genetic disorder associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children.
• Understanding trends in hospitalization and medical interventions is crucial for improving care for these children.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze temporal trends in hospitalizations for pediatric patients diagnosed with trisomy 18.
• To assess the rate of invasive procedures performed on children with trisomy 18 over time.
• To evaluate changes in survival and mortality rates for this population.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of the Kids' Inpatient Database (1997-2016).
• Inclusion of pediatric admissions with a trisomy 18 diagnosis.
• Evaluation of survival to discharge, comorbidities, and specific interventions (gastrostomy tube, tracheostomy, cardiac procedures).

Main Results:

• Annual admissions for trisomy 18 increased by 74% between 1997 and 2016.
• Rates of gastrostomy tube placement (12-fold), tracheostomy (11-fold), and cardiac interventions (5-fold) significantly increased.
• Overall inpatient mortality rate for children with trisomy 18 decreased from 32% to 21% during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Inpatient mortality for children with trisomy 18 has decreased over the past two decades.
• There has been a substantial rise in the utilization of interventions such as gastrostomy tubes, tracheostomies, and cardiac procedures.
• The relationship between increased interventions and decreased mortality warrants further investigation.