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Cleft extension and risks of other birth defects in children with isolated cleft palate
Woranuch Chetpakdeechit1, Bengt Mohlin, Christina Persson
1Department of Orthodontics, Institute of Odontology, The Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden. catharina.hagberg@odontologi.gu.se
Insights
Children with total isolated cleft palate (iCP) have a higher risk of other birth defects, including heart disease and intellectual disability, compared to those with partial iCP. Comprehensive medical evaluations are crucial for newborns with iCP.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Medicine
- Medical Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Isolated cleft palate (iCP) is a common congenital anomaly.
- The association between iCP extent and co-occurring birth defects requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the risk of additional birth defects in infants with iCP, considering cleft length.
- To determine if extensive clefts correlate with a higher incidence of other congenital anomalies.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective cohort study of Caucasian children with iCP born 1975-2005 in southwestern Sweden.
- Cleft length assessed from pre-surgical dental casts.
- Data analyzed from standardized medical records.
Main Results:
- 343 children with iCP identified; incidence 0.64/1000 live births.
- 34% of iCP children had other birth defects; risk 1.7x higher for total vs. partial clefts.
- Congenital heart disease and intellectual disability were most common co-occurring defects; ear infections (43%) and Pierre Robin sequence (15%) also noted.
Conclusions:
- Cleft palate length is a significant factor influencing the risk of associated birth defects.
- Total palatal clefts present a greater risk for co-occurring anomalies than partial clefts.
- Newborns with iCP warrant thorough medical screening due to elevated risks of other congenital conditions.
Objective:
To study the risks of having other birth defects in children born with an isolated cleft palate (iCP) when the length of the cleft was taken into account. The hypothesis was that a newborn with an extensive cleft lesion may have an increased risk of other birth defects compared to a child with a less extensive cleft of the palate.
Material And Methods:
All Caucasian children with iCP born between 1975 and 2005 in the southwestern region of Sweden were included. Data were collected from standardized medical records and the length of the cleft was checked on the pre-surgical dental cast for each child.
Results:
A total of 343 children were born with an iCP. The incidence was 0.64/1000 live births. Thirty-four percent of children with either a total or partial iCP had other birth defects. The risk was 1.7 times higher for a total compared to a partial iCP. The two most common birth defects were congenital heart disease and intellectual disability. Ear problems related to infections were registered in 43% of cases. Fifteen percent of the children had the Pierre Robin sequence, which was analyzed as a separate variable and not included as a birth defect.
Conclusions:
The length of the iCP was found to influence the risk of having another birth defect as the total palatal clefts were more often combined with other birth defects compared to partial clefts. Careful medical check-ups are important for newborns with iCP since they have increased risks of other birth defects.
