Genetic care in geographically isolated small island communities: 8 years of experience in the Dutch Caribbean

Worldwide, there are large inequalities in genetic service delivery. In 2011, we established a bi-annual joint pediatric-genetics clinic with a visiting clinical geneticist in the Dutch Caribbean. This retrospective study evaluates the yield of diagnostic testing and the clinical utility of a diagnosis for patients with rare diseases on these relatively isolated, resource-limited islands. A total of 331 patients that were referred to the clinical geneticist between November 2011 and November 2019 and had genetic testing were included in this study. A total of 508 genetic tests were performed on these patients. Microarray, next-generation sequencing gene panels, and single-gene analyses were the most frequently performed genetic tests. A molecularly confirmed diagnosis was established in 33% of patients (n = 108). Most diagnosed patients had single nucleotide variants or small insertions and/or deletions (48%) or copy number variants (34%). Molecular diagnostic yield was highest in patients referred for seizures and developmental delay/intellectual disability. The genetic diagnosis had an impact on clinical management in 52% of patients. Referrals to other health professionals and changes in therapy were the most frequently reported clinical consequences. In conclusion, despite limited financial resources, our genetics service resulted in a reasonably high molecular diagnostic yield. Even in this resource-limited setting, a genetic diagnosis had an impact on clinical management for the majority of patients. Our approach with a visiting clinical geneticist may be an example for others who are developing genetic services in similar settings.

Automated summary

This study established a bi-annual joint pediatric-genetics clinic in the Dutch Caribbean, evaluating the diagnostic yield and clinical utility of genetic testing for patients with rare diseases in this resource-limited setting. The results showed a reasonably high molecular diagnostic yield and impact on clinical management for the majority of patients, despite financial constraints. The approach of having a visiting clinical geneticist may serve as an example for others developing genetic services in similar settings.