<b>Profile of care delivered to patients with down syndrome at a university hospital, Ribeirão Preto, from 2000 to 2007</b> - DOI: 10.4025/cienccuidsaude.v8i3.9017

Abstract

This quantitative and descriptive study aimed to outline a profile of care delivered to Down syndrome (DS) patients at a Brazilian University Hospital, between January 2000 and November 2007. Data used came exclusively from the database of the public hospital selected for this study. The project was approved by the Ethics Committee of the selected institution. In total, 777 medical care sessions occurred (outpatient clinic, nursing ward and emergency unit), involving 371 DS patients attended in four hospital sectors. The duration of care delivered varied from 0 to 177 days. Of all care sessions, 44% referred to children under one year old, 79% white and 51% male. Seven percent of cases evolved to death. Health care delivery was more frequent for patients with respiratory and circulatory system diseases. The description of such care permitted to identify areas of possible interventions, so as to plan health care more directed at these clients’ needs.