Table 4.
The clinical characteristics of the DAMA patients.
| Variables | Number (n = 68) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Yes (n, %) | No (n, %) | ||
| Twin | 4 (5.88) | 64 (94.12) | |
| Elder brother or sister | 28 * (41.18) | 40 (58.82) | |
| Multiple malformations | 30 (44.12) | 38 (55.88) | |
| Congenital heart disease | 13 (19.12) | 55 (80.88) | |
| Chromosome abnormality | 5 (7.35) | 63 (92.65) | |
| VACTERL syndrome | 5 (7.35) | 63 (92.65) | |
| Reasons for DAMA | Belief in incurability and concerns about the prognosis of the diseases | 31 (45.59) | 37 (54.41) |
| Multiple malformations with poor prognosis | 8 (11.76) | 60 (88.24) | |
| Severe postoperative complications | 5 (7.35) | 63 (92.65) | |
| Financial difficulties | 3 (4.41) | 65 (95.59) | |
| Refusal of further examinations | 2 (2.94) | 66 (97.06) | |
| Assumption of clinical improvement | 1 (1.47) | 67 (98.53) | |
| Unknown | 18 (26.47) | 50 (73.53) | |
*
One older sibling had died of severe congenital malformation after birth and another died of intracerebral hemorrhage after birth.