'The sedentary heart': physical inactivity is associated with cardiac atrophy in adults with an intellectual disability.

Background: The cardiac muscle is well regulated in response to changes in loading conditions. This cardiac plasticity has been studied intensively and is well known in trained athletes. Conversely, the mechanisms leading to the opposite response are less clear.

Congenital heart defects are under-recognised in adult patients with Down's syndrome.

Background: Congenital heart defects (CHD) are common in patients with Down's syndrome; however, patients living in residential centres have not always been screened for CHD in the past. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of CHD in patients with Down's syndrome living in residential centres, and to determine whether cardiac screening should be recommended.

Methods: Between January 2007 and November 2009 Dutch residential centres nationwide were randomly sampled.