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Incidence of anorectal malformations in Łódź province
1Department of Pediatric Surgery and Oncology, Institute of Pediatrics, Medical University, ul. Sporna 36/50, 91-738 Łódź, Poland.
Insights
Anorectal malformations (ARM) occur frequently in newborns. This study found the incidence of ARM in the Łódź region to be approximately 1 in 2295, with similar birth parameters compared to the general newborn population.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Congenital Anomalies
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Anorectal malformations (ARM) are common congenital anomalies.
- Accurate incidence data for ARM is often lacking in medical literature.
- Understanding the incidence and associated factors is crucial for public health initiatives.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the actual incidence of anorectal malformations (ARM) in the Łódź province.
- To compare the birth parameters of infants with ARM to those of the general newborn population.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective analysis of 86 children treated for ARM between 1992 and 1997 in Łódź.
- Calculation of ARM incidence based on children residing in the Łódź province.
- Comparison of pregnancy duration, birth weight, and Apgar scores between ARM infants and liveborn infants in the region.
Main Results:
- The incidence of ARM in the Łódź area ranged from 1 in 1446 to 1 in 3035 annually, averaging 1 in 2295.
- Infants with low-type ARM had a mean pregnancy duration of 39.4 weeks and birth weight of 3030g.
- Infants with high-type ARM had a mean pregnancy duration of 38.8 weeks and birth weight of 3185g.
- No significant differences (p > 0.05) were observed in pregnancy duration, birth weight, or Apgar scores between ARM infants and the general newborn population.
Conclusions:
- Anorectal malformations represent a significant proportion of congenital anomalies in children.
- The incidence of ARM in the Łódź province was established through this study.
- Key perinatal parameters such as gestational age, birth weight, and Apgar scores do not significantly differ between infants with ARM and the general newborn population in the studied area.
Purpose:
It is difficult to obtain reliable figures on incidence of anorectal malformations (ARM) from literature. The aim of the present study was to reveal the real incidence of these defects in a given area.
Material And Methods:
Between 1992 and 1997, 86 children with ARM were treated at the departments of paediatric surgery in Łódź. Parents of 30 (34.9%) children treated within the analysed period lived in the Łódź province. The real incidence of ARM in this area was calculated and birth parameters of children with ARM were compared with corresponding parameters of newborns born alive in Łódź.
Results:
The studied incidence ranged from 1 in 1446 to 1 in 3035 in consecutive years and the average was 1 in 2295. Mean duration of pregnancy in children with low type ARM was 39.4 weeks and in children with high type ARM--38.8 weeks. Mean birth body weight of children with low defects was 3030 g, and of neonates with high defects--3185 g. Apgar score was respectively 8.7 and 8.8. There was also no significant difference in examined parameters (p > 0.05) between ARM children and the population of born alive newborns of Łódź area (respectively 38.9; 3297; 8.9).
Conclusions:
Anorectal malformations are among the common congenital anomalies in children. In the analysed group of children with ARM duration of pregnancy, birth weight and Apgar score were similar to these observed in the whole population of newborns born alive in Łódź province.

