Improving Health Supervision for Children with Down Syndrome During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Strategic Insights -

Research conducted at the Massachusetts General Hospital Down Syndrome Program has shed light on the gaps in routine recommended care for children with Down syndrome. Stephanie Santoro, MD, and her team found that adherence to five American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) guideline components was greater for follow-up visits compared with new patient visits. However, adherence to the audiology component decreased during the pandemic. The study also found improvements in adherence to thyroid-stimulating hormone, hemoglobin, and sleep study components.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study was conducted to address gaps in routine recommended care for children with Down syndrome through quality improvement during the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • Adherence to the five AAP guideline components was greater for follow-up visits compared with new patient visits (69% and 61% respectively).
  • Adherence to the audiology component decreased from 58% to 45% during the pandemic.
  • Improvements in adherence were found in thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), hemoglobin, and sleep study components throughout the study.
  • The COVID-19 pandemic influenced adherence to components of the AAP Health supervision for children with Down syndrome, but improvements in adherence coincided with implementation of the intervention.
  • Future studies will aim to assess adherence more broadly and improve adherence to hearing tests.

Statistics:

  • Total adherence to the five AAP guideline components was greater for follow-up visits compared with new patient visits (69% and 61% respectively).
  • Adherence to the audiology component decreased from 58% to 45% during the pandemic.
  • Adherence to thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), hemoglobin, and sleep study components improved throughout the study.

Sources:

  • Santoro, S. L., Howe, Y. J., Krell, K., Skotko, B. G., & Co, J. P. T. (2023). Health Surveillance in a Down Syndrome Specialty Clinic: Implementation of Electronic Health Record Integrations During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic. The Journal of pediatrics, 255, 58--64.e6. https://doi-org.sdpl.idm.oclc.org/10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.10.021
  • Massachusetts General Hospital website, accessed on [no date provided].