Re: Down syndrome birth rate increases (UK)

[Guest guest]

I think this is GREAT. Finally a good report!

Simone

>

> Down's Syndrome birth rate increase

>

> 3 hours ago

>

> More babies are being born with Down's Syndrome than before pre-

natal

> screening for the disorder was introduced at the end of the 1980s,

it was

> revealed.

>

> Parents appear more willing to bring a Down's child into the world

than they

> used to be, research shows.

>

> Many are taking the decision because those affected by the syndrome

are more

> accepted in society today and their quality of life has improved,

according

> to a new survey.

>

> After the widespread introduction of screening for Down's syndrome

in 1989,

> the number of babies born with the condition in the UK each year

fell from

> 717 to 594 at the start of this decade.

>

> Since 2000, the birth rate has increased, reaching 749 in 2006, the

latest

> year for which figures are available.

>

> Figures from the National Down's Syndrome Cytogenetic Register show

that the

> proportion of new born children with Down's syndrome rose by around

15%

> between 2000 and 2006.

>

> Around one in every 1,000 babies born has Down's Syndrome, an

incurable

> genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.

>

> Its physical effects include a characteristic " flat " face and

slanting eyes,

> short stature, heart defects, and poor sight and hearing. People

with Down's

> Syndrome also have moderate to severe degrees of learning

disability.

>

> A blood test or ultrasound scan is used to tell if a pregnant woman

is at

> risk of having a child with Down's. This can be followed by more

invasive

> tests which take samples of fluid from the womb or placental tissue

to show

> definitively if a child has the syndrome. At either stage a

decision may be

> taken whether or not to continue with the pregnancy.

>

> The Down's Syndrome Association, in conjunction with the BBC,

conducted a

> survey of 1,000 of its members to find out why so many were

choosing to have

> Down's children despite the availability of pre-natal screening. The

> findings will be featured in the documentary " Born with Down's

Syndrome " to

> be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 8pm On Sunday.

>

>

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g_gfJysmI7tKLET

NTxGyC

> VxSAuBg

>

[Guest guest]

Yes, I thought this was good news too until I looked into it a bit deeper. I was surprised by the 1/1000 birth rate, which is much lower than here in the US. This article explains more, particularly this part:Down's births have risen by approximately 15% as a proportion of all live births since 2000. However, Professor Joan , director of the register, cautioned against assuming that many more people were opting to continue with a Down's pregnancy. She said the rise in the number of babies being born with Down's syndrome was likely to be related to an increase in the number of older women - who are more likely to have a Down's pregnancy - becoming pregnant. Figures showed that the proportion of women deciding to terminate after finding out their child was likely to have Down's had remained constantly high, at 92%, since testing was introduced. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7746747.stm

So, I'm not sure if this is truly good news. It sounds like if the rate is staying the same, it may be that there are just more babies, in general, with Ds, maybe because of the age of the mother?

Kris

> I think this is GREAT. Finally a good report!> Simone> > >>>> Down's Syndrome birth rate increase>> >> 3 hours ago>> >> More babies are being born with Down's Syndrome than before pre-> natal>> screening for the disorder was introduced at the end of the 1980s, > it was>> revealed.>> >> Parents appear more willing to bring a Down's child into the world > than they>> used to be, research shows.>> >> Many are taking the decision because those affected by the syndrome > are more>> accepted in society today and their quality of life has improved, > according>> to a new survey.>> >> After the widespread introduction of screening for Down's syndrome > in 1989,>> the number of babies born with the condition in the UK each year > fell from>> 717 to 594 at the start of this decade.>> >> Since 2000, the birth rate has increased, reaching 749 in 2006, the > latest>> year for which figures are available.>> >> Figures from the National Down's Syndrome Cytogenetic Register show > that the>> proportion of new born children with Down's syndrome rose by around > 15%>> between 2000 and 2006.>> >> Around one in every 1,000 babies born has Down's Syndrome, an > incurable>> genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome.>> >> Its physical effects include a characteristic "flat" face and > slanting eyes,>> short stature, heart defects, and poor sight and hearing. People > with Down's>> Syndrome also have moderate to severe degrees of learning > disability.>> >> A blood test or ultrasound scan is used to tell if a pregnant woman > is at>> risk of having a child with Down's. This can be followed by more > invasive>> tests which take samples of fluid from the womb or placental tissue > to show>> definitively if a child has the syndrome. At either stage a > decision may be>> taken whether or not to continue with the pregnancy.>> >> The Down's Syndrome Association, in conjunction with the BBC, > conducted a>> survey of 1,000 of its members to find out why so many were > choosing to have>> Down's children despite the availability of pre-natal screening. The>> findings will be featured in the documentary "Born with Down's > Syndrome" to>> be broadcast on BBC Radio 4 at 8pm On Sunday. >> >> > http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5g_gfJysmI7tKLET> NTxGyC>> VxSAuBg>>> > > > ------------------------------------> > 1. Anything suggested on this site or opinions offered are not intended to be medical or pharmaceutical advice or otherwise take the place of your physicians orders, nor to diagnose or treat your specific health problems. > Please discuss all methods of treatment with your practitioner.> > 2 *****WARNING: Flames and inappropriate treatment of other members on this list will NOT be tolerated.> > 3. Our HOME page is http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DownSyndromeInfoExchange where all archived posts as well as photos,links, files, articles etc. are found. You "MUST" have a Yahoo ID and pass word to enter it.> > To contact Carol, owner & moderator> doihavtasay@...> > To contact Kathy, owner & moderator> kathy_r@...> > To contact , owner & moderator> noliptoday@...>

[Guest guest]

Unfortunately, it is all a bit more complicated than the headlines might

suggest:

The live birth rate (of babies who have Down syndrome) has increased from 9.2 in

10,000 in 1992 to 11.5 in 10,000 in 2006 - up 25%:

http://www.down-syndrome.org/editorials/2087/

However, during this time the natural (if no abortions) live birth rate rose 50%

- from 14 in 10,000 in 1992 to 22 in 10,000, prenatal diagnoses rose increased

from 44% to 60% of all diagnoses and abortions remained static at 91% of all

prenatally diagnosed babies. (The static abortion rate [as % of prenatally

diagnosed] following diagnosis is probably not surprising, because by this point

in the process the decision to accept a [risky] invasive diagnostic procedure

has already been made presumably with a view to terminating on receipt of a

confirmed diagnosis.)

National data about screening opt-in rates is not collected. Regional data shows

wide variation between areas and even between hospitals within the same area.

Overall perhaps 50%-60% of women seem to choose prenatal screening.

Overall, therefore, we cannot say for sure why birth rates are rising: (a)

increasing maternal age, ( decreasing screening effectiveness in practice, or

© parents opting for screening less frequently (or all three).

Hope this helps,

-------------------------

From: DownSyndromeInfoExchange

[mailto:DownSyndromeInfoExchange ] On Behalf Of Kris Delaney

Sent: 24 November 2008 19:50

To: DownSyndromeInfoExchange

Subject: Re: [DownSyndromeInfoExchange] Re: Down syndrome birth rate increases

(UK)

Yes, I thought this was good news too until I looked into it a bit deeper.  I

was surprised by the 1/1000 birth rate, which is much lower than here in the

US.  This article explains more, particularly this part:

Down's births have risen by approximately 15% as a proportion of all live births

since 2000.

However, Professor Joan , director of the register, cautioned against

assuming that many more people were opting to continue with a Down's pregnancy.

She said the rise in the number of babies being born with Down's syndrome was

likely to be related to an increase in the number of older women - who are more

likely to have a Down's pregnancy - becoming pregnant.

Figures showed that the proportion of women deciding to terminate after finding

out their child was likely to have Down's had remained constantly high, at 92%,

since testing was introduced.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7746747.stm

 

So, I'm not sure if this is truly good news.  It sounds like if the rate is

staying the same, it may be that there are just more babies, in general, with

Ds, maybe because of the age of the mother?

 

Kris

 

....

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