Investigation of cardiopulmonary parameters, motor development andmuscle strength in children with down syndrome with and withoutcongenital heart disease

Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are detected in 40-60% of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) and increase the risk of developmental delay in the presence of syndromes. The aim of the study was to compare cardiopulmonary parameters, gross motor development and hand grip strength in DS children with and without CHD. A mean age of 30.5±3.55 months 14 children with CHD and whose mean age of 29.85±3.75 months 14 children without CHD were included in the study. Eighteen of the children with Down syndrome were girls and 10 were boys. Demographic variables, cardiopulmonary parameters and echocardiographic values were recorded. Gross motor development was evaluated with Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88). Hand grip strength was measured with the Baseline Pneumatic Bulb Dynamometer. As a result of the study, the GMFM-88 scores and hand grip strength of DS with CHD were statistically lower than those without CHD (p<0.05). Wang respiratory score, one of the cardiopulmonary parameters, and the fractional shortening value, one of the echocardiographic findings, were found to be higher in DS with CHD (p<0.05). A moderately positive correlation was found between the GMFM-88 scores and the oxygen saturation, right hand grip strength, and left hand grip strength values (r=0.46, p=0.01; r=0.67, p<0.001; r=0.51, p=0.005, respectively) of the DS children participating in the study. Poor hand grip strength and low oxygen saturation may be factors affecting gross motor development in DS children with CHD. Therefore, it may be important to assess cardiopulmonary parameters, motor development and hand grip strength, to identify risks and to early intervention with individualized rehabilitation programs, especially in DS children with CHD, in order to support development.