Leukemia survivors with Down syndrome appear to have the same types of treatment-related chronic health issues as those without the condition, but there are a few notable exceptions, researchers concluded after conducting a study involving 735 individuals. Participants from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study included survivors of pediatric leukemia either with (n=154) or without (n=581) Down syndrome. Investigators assessed answers to chronic health condition questionnaires.

The risk of having at least 1 late onset chronic condition was the same in both contingents. However, survivors of Down syndrome were:

• 70% more likely to experience serious chronic conditions.
• More apt to have cataracts, hearing loss, and thyroid dysfunction.
• Less likely to have second cancers.

25-year cumulative incidence of any condition was 83% in Down syndrome survivors, vs 69% in those without the condition.