Adults with Down Syndrome: Characterization of a Portuguese Sample

Authors

  • Paula Breia Department of Neurology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.
  • Rosário Mendes Department of Neurology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.
  • Ana Silvestre Department of Neurology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.
  • Maria João Gonçalves Department of Psychology. Cercizimbra. Sesimbra. Portugal.
  • Maria João Figueira Department of Psychology. Cercizimbra. Sesimbra. Portugal.
  • Regina Bispo Department of Statistics. Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da Vida. Lisboa. Portugal.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.20344/amp.4898

Abstract

Introduction: Down syndrome or Trisomy 21 affects physical, behavioral and cognitive development. Ageing people with Down syndrome may suffer from several comorbidities that interfere with their daily life.
Objective: To analyze in a sample of adults with Down syndrome the presence of common medical diseases, regular use of medication, possible cognitive impairment and oral communication skills.
Material and Methods: The socio-demographic and clinical data of 209 Portuguese adults (20-58 years) with Down syndrome were collected. Twenty-six subjects were assessed with the WAIS-III. Data was statistically analyzed - SPSS (v.19).
Results: Almost half (47.36%) of the sample suffers from comorbidities, with cardiac, psychiatric, epilepsy and hypothyroidism ranked as the most prevalent diseases. Seventy-two patients (34.45%) take medication that acts on the central nervous system. The WAIS-III results revealed IQ scores between 45-61 (mean = 49.65, SD = 4.93) and 141 individuals (67.5%) who can express themselves through basic oral language.
Discussion: In line with other studies, these individuals are vulnerable to various comorbidities. Most have basic oral language, but the IQ values are in the ‘extremely low’ range, with better performance on verbal tasks.
Conclusion: The cognitive constraints and communication difficulties in the population with Down syndrome may difficult the early clinical recognition of comorbidities associated with ageing. The identification of new semiology, with caregiver support, is essential to ensure that appropriate care is provided to this population.
Keywords: Adult; Down Syndrome; Comorbidity; Portugal.

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Author Biographies

Paula Breia, Department of Neurology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.

Licenciatura em Medicina

Mestre em Fisiologia

Neurologista e neurofisiologista clínica

Investigadora resposável pelo projecto financiado pela FCT (PTDC/PSI-PCO/104296/2008)

Areas de interesse: Epilepsia, eletroencefalografia, demência, deficiencia intelectual, ensino e investigação em saude

Rosário Mendes, Department of Neurology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.

Licenciatura em Psicologia

Bolseira do projecto financiado pela FCT (PTDC/PSI-PCO/104296/2008)

Areas de interesse: Deficiencia intelelectual,patologias neurológicas crónicas e impacto nas famílias e cuidadores, Trissomia 21, análise estatística

Ana Silvestre, Department of Neurology. Hospital Garcia de Orta. Almada. Portugal.

Licenciatura em Psicologia; Neuropsicóloga

Investigadora do projecto financiado pela FCT (PTDC/PSI-PCO/104296/2008)

Areas de interesse: Deficite cognitivo ligeiro e demência, Deficiencia intelelectual, Epilepsia, avaliação neuropsicológica

Maria João Gonçalves, Department of Psychology. Cercizimbra. Sesimbra. Portugal.

Licenciatura em Psicologia
Investigadora do projecto financiado pela FCT (PTDC/PSI-PCO/104296/2008)
Areas de interesse: Deficiencia intelelectual, Duplo diagnóstico, Trissomia 21, avaliação e acompanhamento de cuidadores

Maria João Figueira, Department of Psychology. Cercizimbra. Sesimbra. Portugal.

Licenciatura em Ensino Especial e Reabilitação

Investigadora do projecto financiado pela FCT (PTDC/PSI-PCO/104296/2008)
Areas de interesse: Deficiencia intelelectual, Duplo diagnóstico, Trissomia 21,Reabilitação em patologias crónicas, prevenção

Regina Bispo, Department of Statistics. Instituto Universitário de Ciências Psicológicas, Sociais e da Vida. Lisboa. Portugal.

Licenciatura em Matematica

Doutoramento em Estatistica

Investigadora do projecto financiado pela FCT (PTDC/PSI-PCO/104296/2008)
Areas de interesse: Analise matematica e estatística, Ensino e Investigação em saúde, Trissomia 21

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Published

2014-06-30

How to Cite

1.
Breia P, Mendes R, Silvestre A, Gonçalves MJ, Figueira MJ, Bispo R. Adults with Down Syndrome: Characterization of a Portuguese Sample. Acta Med Port [Internet]. 2014 Jun. 30 [cited 2024 Nov. 24];27(3):357-63. Available from: https://actamedicaportuguesa.com/revista/index.php/amp/article/view/4898

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 3 (2014): May-June

Section

Original

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