Key points
- Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States.
- Families and healthcare providers in the United States have learned over time how to improve care for people living with Down syndrome.
- Children with Down syndrome are living longer, many into their adult years.
- Ongoing, appropriate medical care can help children and adults with Down syndrome live as healthy lives as possible.
Down syndrome in the United States
Each year, about 5,700 babies born in the United States have Down syndrome. This means that Down syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 640 babies.
Life expectancy
The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome increased dramatically between 1960 and 2007.1 In 1960, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 10 years old. In 2007, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 47 years old.
Many factors can affect how long a person with Down syndrome lives. Babies born with a very low birth weight or a congenital heart defect are less likely to survive their first year. There are also racial disparities, with Black infants having a lower survival past the first year. More research is needed to help understand why.
Other health conditions
Between 50 and 65% of all babies born with Down syndrome are also born with a congenital heart defect. Babies with Down syndrome can be affected by a wide variety of heart defects. Many of these conditions will need surgery, while some milder conditions might go away on their own as the child grows.
Compared with children without Down syndrome, children with Down syndrome are at higher risk for certain other medical conditions. Some of the most common conditions include:
- Hearing loss (up to 75% may be affected)
- Obstructive sleep apnea, where a person’s breathing temporarily stops while asleep (between 50 and 75%)
- Ear infections (between 50 and 70% may be affected)
- Eye diseases, like cataracts (up to 60%)
- Eye issues requiring glasses (50%)
- Heart defects present at birth (between 50 and 65%)
- Alzheimer’s disease
Source: https://www.cdc.gov/birth-defects/living-with-down-syndrome/index.html
