Disorders of Gut-Brain Interaction in a National Cohort of Children With Down Syndrome
Steven L. Ciciora, Kandamurugu Manickam, Miguel Saps
Abstract
Background/Aims: Disorders of brain-gut interaction (DGBIs) are present in adults and children around the world. Down syndrome (DS) is the most common chromosomal condition in humans. While DS has associations with many organic medical conditions, the frequency of DGBIs in children and adolescents with DS has not previously been studied. We assess the rate of DGBIs in children and adolescents 4-18 years of age with DS in the United States using the Rome IV criteria by caregiver report. Methods: This is a cross-sectional national survey study in which caregivers (n = 114) of children with DS completed an online survey about their child's gastrointestinal symptoms and quality of life (QoL). Results: < 0.001). Almost all children with DS and concomitant autism (87.5%) had at least 1 DGBI. Conclusions: DGBIs are common in children with DS and are associated with diminished QoL.