One to two percent of children born with this syndrome have a life expectancy of two to three years; however, most individuals reach adulthood and can live a life span into the fifties. Early treatment should be considered for the most severe issues with this condition to prolong life expectancy.

CATCH 22 syndrome is characterized by cardiac defects, abnormal facial features, thymic hypoplasia, cleft palate, and hypocalcemia. It results from a deletion within chromosome 22q11. This syndrome is not a simple disease. It includes DiGeorge syndrome, conotruncal anomaly face syndrome, and velocardiofacial syndrome.

The prevalence of 22q11. 2DS has been estimated to be approximately 1/3000 to 1/6,000 live births. These numbers may well be higher due to the variability of the condition, difficulty in properly diagnosing, and lack of newborn screening.

Other changes in the number or structure of chromosome 22 can have a variety of effects. Intellectual disability, delayed development, delayed or absent speech, distinctive facial features, and behavioral problems are common features.