Study prioritises Covid vaccination for those with genetic disorders

Investigators found that adults with Down syndrome were roughly three times more likely to die from Covid-19 than the general population. This increased risk was especially apparent in the fifth decade of life: A 40-year-old with Down syndrome had a similar risk of dying from Covid-19 as someone 30 years older in the general population.

The study was published this week in The Lancet's 'EClinical Medicine'.

"Our results, which are based on more than 1,000 Covif-19 unique patients with Down syndrome, show that individuals with Down syndrome often have more severe symptoms at hospitalisation and experience high rates of lung complications associated with increased mortality," said Anke Huels, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Emory University's Rollins School of Public Health, and the study's first author.

Huels added, "These results have implications for preventive and clinical management of Covid-19 patients with Down syndrome and emphasise the need to prioritise individuals with Down syndrome for vaccination."

Down syndrome is a genetic condition typically caused by the trisomy--or having an extra copy--of chromosome 21. This extra copy changes how a baby's body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges.

To collect data for the study, T21RS Covid-19 Initiative launched an international survey of clinicians and caregivers of individuals with Down syndrome infected with Covid-19 between April and October 2020. Survey respondents were mainly from Europe, the United States, Latin America, and India. The survey was available in English, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, German, Bengali, Hindi, and Mandarin.

"We are delighted to see that, partly based on our findings, the CDC included Down syndrome in the list of 'high-risk medical conditions,' which will prioritise those with this genetic condition for vaccination," said co-author Alberto Costa, professor of pediatrics and psychiatry at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

Costa added, "Similar decisions have been made in the United Kingdom and Spain, and we hope that other countries will soon follow."