A study of over 38,000 pregnant women by a city-based laboratory has confirmed that late motherhood can lead to children being afflicted with Down's Syndrome. The study has found out that babies of mothers above the age of 35 fall in the high-risk category. The study, done by Metropolis Healthcare Laboratories, was conducted over a period of one and spread all over the country.
How was the study conducted?
Blood samples of 38,081 pregnant women were tested. Of the 2,996 women in the 35-40 age group, 22% were categorised high risk for a foetus that may have Down's Syndrome. Though the sample size of mothers above 40 was low (259), close to 60% tested high risk. Younger mothers -- between 31 and 35 years – had a seven percent risk. Those between 21 and 30 years had 2-3% risk.
What is Down's Syndrome?
It's a genetic disorder, wherein a baby has an extra chromosome. It causes mental retardation and abnormal physical growth. It affects about 1 in 800 babies worldwide. It increases the chances of babies developing congenital heart defects, respiratory, hearing problems, childhood leukemia and thyroid conditions. In India, more than 23,000 babies are diagnosed with Down's Syndrome every year.
What does high risk imply?
Doctors say being tested as high risk for Down's Syndrome does not mean that each of those babies will necessarily have the abnormality. "To pinpoint that a foetus may suffer from a defect, a multitude of tests are required. The blood marker tests are preliminary indicators for an expectant mother to later undergo confirmatory tests like amniocentesis, where amniotic fluid surrounding the foetus is extracted and tested for confirming the abnormality," said Dr Deepak Sanghavi, head, Clinical Chemistry, Metropolis Labs.
Why are blood tests for anomalies necessary?
Gynaecologists say a sonography scan has only a 35-40% standalone chance of catching a morphological abnormality in the womb. "Sonography scans have to be coupled with blood marker tests to pinpoint abnormalities. We advise all women to undergo blood marker and sonography tests after 18 weeks of pregnancy," said Dr Ashiwini Bhalerao-Gandhi, gynaecologist at PD Hinduja Hospital, Mahim.
What are the impediments in undergoing blood test?
Blood marker tests cost between Rs 2,000 and Rs 3000. Even though international guidelines mandate that all pregnant women should undergo these tests, women from poor communities find them expensive. "Not all women can get the tests done for economic reasons, but every woman above the age of thirty years who is pregnant should get the tests done," said Dr Rekha Daver, head, gynaecology at state-run JJ Hospital in Byculla.
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