health

Edwards syndrome occurs once in every 6,000 to 8,000 live births in the
United States. About 95 percent of children conceived with the syndrome,
however, die before birth. Between 5 and 10 percent of children
born with trisomy 18 live beyond twelve months.
About 80 percent of children born with Edwards syndrome are
female; it is thought that being male increases the risk of dying from
the disorder before birth. The risk of having a child with the disorder
increases with the mother’s age.
Edwards syndrome is equally common in all races and ethnic groups.