The GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome published in 2020 include a section on cardiovascular disease. The authors of the guidelines provided information on atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease and strokes. The cardiovascular section begins on page 32 of the full guidelines document. The full guidelines, a checklist, and an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association can be found at this link. 

The authors recommend that adults with Down syndrome with a history of congenital heart disease (such as atrioventricular septal defect) see a cardiologist for a periodic cardiac evaluation and review of a corresponding monitoring plan. Dr. Leslie Brookfield is a cardiologist who has treated many adults with Down syndrome. We are excited to share that Dr. Brookfield will be seeing patients two Wednesdays per month at our clinic in Park Ridge, IL. If you are interested in scheduling an appointment with Dr. Brookfield at the Adult Down Syndrome Center, please call 847-698-5500.