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Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies in Iran: A Review Article
Soudabeh Vatankhah1,2, Mina Jalilvand2, Samaneh Sarkhosh2
1Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
Insights
Congenital anomalies affect 2.3% of infants in Iran, with higher rates in boys. Musculoskeletal, skin, and genitourinary anomalies are most common, highlighting the need for preventive strategies like genetic counseling.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Medical Genetics
- Public Health
Background:
- Congenital anomalies are significant causes of childhood disability and mortality globally.
- Associated healthcare costs present a substantial economic burden on families and health systems.
- Infant congenital anomaly prevalence in Iran requires thorough investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review and meta-analyze the prevalence of congenital anomalies among infants in Iran.
- To identify the most common types of congenital anomalies and their distribution.
Main Methods:
- A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases (IranMedex, SID, Magiran, Scopus, PubMed).
- Inclusion criteria focused on descriptive and cross-sectional studies on infant congenital anomaly prevalence.
- Data were analyzed using CMA 2 software, incorporating findings from 27 selected studies.
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of congenital anomalies in Iranian infants was determined to be 2.3%.
- Prevalence rates were higher in males (3%) compared to females (2%).
- Musculoskeletal (27.5%), skin (19.7%), and genitourinary system (15.8%) anomalies were most prevalent; respiratory anomalies were least common (1.82%).
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of congenital anomalies among infants in Iran is notably high.
- Preventive strategies, including genetic counseling, are crucial, especially for consanguineous marriages.
- Addressing congenital anomalies requires integrated coping and prevention approaches.
Background:
Congenital anomalies are considered as main causes of disability and mortality among children in developing and developed countries. Expenditures of hospitalization and treatment procedures for these children impose a large burden on health system and their families. This study aimed to review the prevalence of congenital anomalies among infants in Iran.
Methods:
The review of studies was conducted through searching databases including IranMedex, SID, Magiran, Scopus, and PubMed. Descriptive and cross-sectional studies investigating on the prevalence of congenital anomalies among infants were included into the study. Hand search for some related journals and websites was done. The list of studies' references was reviewed. The data were analyzed using the CMA 2 software.
Results:
Of 455 studies, 27 studies were included into the meta-analysis study. The studies were conducted between 1992 and 2014.The overall prevalence of congenital anomalies among infants was estimated to be 2.3%. The overall prevalence rates, in terms of gender, were estimated to be 3% in boys and 2% in girls. While the highest prevalence rates were related to musculoskeletal anomalies (27.5%), skin anomalies (19.7%) and genitourinary system anomalies (15.8%), the lowest prevalence rate was related to respiratory system (1.82%).
Conclusion:
The prevalence of congenital anomalies among infants in Iran is high. In order to reduce the rates of these anomalies and complications resulted from them, coping and preventive strategies such as the necessity of genetic counseling particularly in consanguineous marriages seem to be appropriate solutions.
