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Major birth defects at King Fahd Hofuf Hospital: Prevalence, risk factors and outcome

M Y Refat1, M Al-Moghanem, P McDonald

  • 1Departments of Pediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynecology and Medical Records, King Fahd Hofuf Hospital, Al Hasa, Saudi Arabia.

Annals of Saudi Medicine
|July 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

Major birth defects (MBDs) affected 2.27% of live births, with cardiac and central nervous systems most impacted. These defects were the leading cause of death in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU).

Area of Science:

  • Medical research
  • Pediatrics
  • Public health

Background:

  • Major birth defects (MBDs) represent a significant global health concern.
  • Understanding the prevalence and patterns of MBDs is crucial for targeted interventions.
  • Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs) often manage infants with complex congenital anomalies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence and patterns of MBDs in live births at King Fahd Hofuf Hospital (KFHH).
  • To identify associated maternal and infant risk factors for MBDs.
  • To assess the contribution of MBDs to mortality within the NICU.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of medical records for all live birth infants (LBs) over a three-year period.
  • Data collection included infant demographics, defect types, maternal history, and outcomes.
  • Statistical analysis to determine prevalence rates, risk factors, and mortality contribution.

Main Results:

  • A prevalence of 2.27% (687/30,159 LBs) for MBDs was observed.
  • Cardiac (20.8%), musculoskeletal (18.7%), and central nervous systems (18.3%) were most affected.
  • Higher rates of life-threatening defects and a strong association with maternal diabetes were noted.
  • Infant birth weight was inversely correlated with defect rates.
  • MBDs were the primary cause of death in the NICU, accounting for 36.97% of mortality.

Conclusions:

  • MBDs pose a substantial burden, with specific defects occurring at higher rates than previously reported.
  • Maternal diabetes is a significant risk factor for MBDs.
  • MBDs are a critical determinant of mortality in the NICU, necessitating focused prevention and management strategies.

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