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[Prevalence of congenital malformations at birth in Chilean maternity hospitals]
Insights
Congenital malformation prevalence remained stable in Chile from 1982-2010, with increased rates of Down syndrome and decreased rates of spina bifida and anencephaly.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
- Medical Genetics
Context:
- The Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) has monitored birth defects since 1969.
- Chilean hospitals participating in ECLAMC provided data for this study.
Purpose:
- To analyze congenital malformation prevalence rates at birth in Chilean ECLAMC hospitals from 2001-2010.
- To compare these rates with data from 1982-1994.
Summary:
- A review of 282,568 newborns in the ECLAMC database (2001-2010) revealed a 3.9% prevalence of congenital malformations.
- Prevalence was higher in stillbirths (15.3%) than live births (3.8%).
- Rates stabilized around 4% from 1985-2010, with significant increases in Down syndrome and decreases in spina bifida and anencephaly.
Impact:
- Congenital malformation rates remained stable over 18 years, but specific defect prevalences shifted.
- Identified trends in specific birth defects like Down syndrome, spina bifida, and anencephaly provide valuable public health insights.
Background:
The Latin American Collaborative Study of Congenital Malformations (ECLAMC) is an epidemiological surveillance system operating in 11 South American countries since 1969.
Aim:
To analyze the Congenital Malformation prevalence rate at birth from 2001 to 2010 in Chilean Hospitals participating in ECLAMC. To compare these rates with those of the period 1982-1994.
Material And Methods:
Review of the ECLAMC database, which contains information about 282.568 newborns, 2.110 of them stillbirths (0.75%) from 13 Maternity hospitals.
Results:
In the study period, 10.925 newborns had congenital malformations (3.9 %). Their frequency was lower in live newborns than stillbirths (3.8 and 15.3%, respectively). Compared with the 1982-1994 period, congenital malformation prevalence rates at birth were higher. They stabilized in approximately 4 %, from 1985 to 2010. The prevalence of some anomalies such as Down syndrome increased significantly. On the other hand, there was a reduction in the prevalence of spina bifida and anencephaly.
Conclusions:
Prevalence rates of congenital malformations at birth remained stable in the last 18 years in Chilean Hospitals participating in ECLAMC. However the prevalence of some malformations such as Down syndrome, Polydactyly, anotia-microtia, syndactyly and cleft palate have increased. The prevalence rates of spina bifida and anencephaly have decreased.
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