Descriptive epidemiology of clubfoot in Peru: a clinic-based study

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Pediatrics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Congenital clubfoot is a frequent musculoskeletal birth defect, affecting approximately 1 in 1000 newborns annually.
• The precise causes and developmental mechanisms of clubfoot remain largely unknown.
• No prior epidemiological studies in Peru have investigated genetic or environmental risk factors for clubfoot.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify specific environmental and socioeconomic factors associated with an increased risk of congenital clubfoot in Peru.
• To explore potential correlations between parental characteristics and clubfoot incidence.
• To contribute epidemiological data on clubfoot risk factors in a South American population.

Main Methods:

• A descriptive, clinic-based study involving 72 children with confirmed clubfoot and 103 control children.
• Structured questionnaires administered to biological mothers to gather data on environmental, socioeconomic, and parental factors.
• Collection of phenotypic data for clubfoot subjects.

Main Results:

• Male infants were twice as likely to be diagnosed with clubfoot compared to females.
• Half of the clubfoot cases were bilateral; no significant difference was observed between left and right foot prevalence.
• Increased risk of clubfoot was associated with winter birth, young maternal and paternal age at conception, and lower maternal education levels.
• Paternal smoking and any form of household smoking showed a strong correlation with higher clubfoot risk.

Conclusions:

• Environmental and socioeconomic factors, including parental age, education, smoking habits, and season of birth, play a significant role in congenital clubfoot development.
• This study highlights key modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors for clubfoot in the Peruvian population.
• Further research is warranted to elucidate the complex etiology of clubfoot and inform targeted prevention strategies.