Morbidity and hospitalizations of adults with Down syndrome

► Adults with Down syndrome were hospitalized significantly higher than the general population. ► Exceptionally long hospitalizations were seen at the departments of internal medicine, dermatology and intensive care units. ► More than a fourth of the hospitalizations were caused by infectious diseases, mostly respiratory infections. ► Hypothyroidism was found more prevalent. ► This study emphasizes the need for preventive community-based medicine.