Down's syndrome diagnoses increase by 71%
Down's syndrome diagnoses increase 71 per cent as number of babies born with condition fall
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Tuesday, 27, Oct 2009 12:02
By Sarah Garrod
The number of diagnoses of Down's syndrome has increased by 71 per cent since 1989, but the number of babies born with the condition has actually fallen.
Research from the British Medical Journal (BMJ) released today found women having babies later in life had much to do with the increase, but was offset by the increase in antenatal screening and subsequent terminations.
In the period between 1989/90 to 2007/2008 doctors found the number of diagnoses increased, "largely due to the considerable increase in the number of older mothers over this period".
Researchers from Barts and The London Medical School analysed data held on the National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register (NDSCR) since it was set up in January 1989.
The NDSCR holds the records of 26,000 cases of Down's, accounting for around 93 per cent of all diagnosed Down's births and pregnancy terminations in England and Wales.
The results of the study showed while their was a stark increase in the proportion of younger women (below aged 37) opting for screening, up 40 per cent, the proportion of older women deciding to be screened stayed constant at around 70 per cent.
The number who decided to terminate the pregnancy following antenatal diagnosis remained constant, at just over nine in ten.
Lead author, Professor Joan Morris, said that, given older women have a far greater chance of having a baby with Down's, with the risk for a 40-year-old mother being 16 times that for a 25 year old mother, more research is needed to find out why around 30 per cent of older women decide not to be tested.
"It is important to ascertain whether the decision is an informed one and, if not, to address the lack of information," she said.
The authors conclude: "As more women are having children later in life and a significant proportion of these mothers are deciding against screening a large number of births with Down's syndrome are still likely, and that monitoring of the numbers of babies born with Down's syndrome is essential to ensure adequate provision for their needs."