Gastroschisis prevalence in Texas 1999-2003

The worldwide prevalence of gastroschisis is increasing. Maternal age, race/ethnicity, and place of residence have been associated with increased risk.

We obtained descriptive characteristics of mothers of infants with gastroschisis and mothers of all live births from the Texas Birth Defects Registry and Texas vital records for 1999-2003. We calculated prevalence, crude prevalence ratios, and prevalence ratios adjusted for maternal age, parity, education, race/ethnicity, and geographic entity (Mexican border proximity, urban/rural residence, health service region, and county).

We observed 764 cases of gastroschisis among 1,827,317 live births, for a prevalence of 4.18 per 10,000 births (95% confidence interval 3.88-4.48). Prevalence increased during 1999-2003 (p for trend <0.02). Infants of young and nulliparous mothers were at greatest risk in crude analyses. Other characteristics associated with increased risk were 12 or fewer years of education, border residence, and Hispanic ethnicity. Black mothers were at lower risk. When adjusted for maternal age, race/ethnicity, education, parity, and residence, we found that border residence, educational level, and Hispanic race/ethnicity were no longer significant, but young mothers and nulliparous mothers remained at higher risk, and blacks at reduced risk. Differences in prevalence observed between regions and counties largely disappeared when adjusted for maternal factors. No significant difference between urban and rural residence was found.

The prevalence of gastroschisis increased in Texas during 1999-2003. Black mothers were at lower risk, and Hispanic mothers were at no greater risk than whites. No differences were found between urban/rural or border/nonborder residents.