Adherence to the American Academy of Pediatrics Health Supervision Guidelines for Children With Down Syndrome in a Tertiary Care Institution in Northeastern Colombia
Year: 2025
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Health surveillance of children with Down syndrome is often insufficient. We assessed adherence to the 2011 American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) health supervision guidelines at a tertiary pediatric care institution in northeastern Colombia. This descriptive, cross-sectional study analyzed electronic medical records of 124 children under 13 years (59.7% were males, and 66% resided in a metropolitan area) seen between 2012 and 2023. Overall adherence was 57%. Adherence rates varied by age: high in neonates and school-aged children (>80%), moderate in infants and preschoolers (68%), and low in toddlers (39%). While most children underwent echocardiogram (99%), complete blood count (90%) and karyotype testing (78%) within the first month, fewer received timely hearing evaluations by six months (60%) or ophthalmologic evaluation by six months (34%). Significant non-adherence occurred during the first year and persisted through early childhood, highlighting the need to identify barriers and improve guideline compliance.
Source: Cureus
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.93426
Institution: Universidad Industrial de Santander
Language: English
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W4414582146