Table 4 Medical guidelines of health checks for optimal medical care of adults with Down syndrome
International [11] | Norway [13] | Sweden [12] | |
|---|---|---|---|
Alzheimer’s disease (dementia) | X | X | |
Arthrosis | X | ||
Atlantoaxial Instability | X | X | Yearly |
Autism/ADHD | X | ||
Autoimmune disorders e.g., coeliac disease | X | X | X |
Behavioural change | X | Yearly | |
Blood screening | Yearly | Yearly | |
Cardiac and lung evaluation i.e., mitral valve prolapse, aortic regurgitation and pulmonary artery hypertension | X | X | Yearly |
Contraceptive for females | X | ||
Cervical spine | X | Yearly | |
Dental care/oral health | X | Every 6 months | Yearly |
Depression/anxiety | X | X | |
Diabetes (blood glucose) | Yearly | ||
Emotional support | X | ||
Epilepsy, life periods with increased risk | 3rd, 5th and 6th decade | X | |
Eye examination i.e., cataract, refraction error, other eye disorders | Every 2 years | Yearly/ specialist every 5th year | Every three years until age 25 |
Gastrointestinal disorders i.e., dysphagia, oesophageal reflux, constipation, Hirschsprung’s disease | Yearly | Yearly | |
Hearing examination (hearing loss) conductive/sensorineural | Every 2 years | Yearly | Yearly |
Infectious diseases such as pneumonia and influenza | Yearly | Yearly | |
National screenings | X | ||
Nutrition | X | Yearly | |
Obesity | X | Yearly | |
Orthopaedic problems (hips/knee/feet/spine) | X | Yearly | |
Osteoporosis | X | ||
Psychosocial motor and mental disorder | X | ||
Skin diseases i.e., alopecia, vitiligo, dermatitis, psoriasis | X | ||
Sleep, i.e., obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome | Yearly | ||
Testicular cancer | Yearly | ||
Thyroid screening | Yearly | Yearly | Yearly |