Related Experiment Video

Updated: Feb 2, 2026

A Pipeline to Characterize Structural Heart Defects in the Fetal Mouse
08:19

A Pipeline to Characterize Structural Heart Defects in the Fetal Mouse

Published on: December 16, 2022

2.4K

Population-based birth defects data in the United States, 2011-2015: A focus on eye and ear defects

Erin B Stallings1,2, Jennifer L Isenburg1, Cara T Mai1

  • 1National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

Birth Defects Research
|November 17, 2018
PubMed

Insights

This study reports on major eye and ear anomalies, including anophthalmia/microphthalmia, congenital cataract, and anotia/microtia, in a large US birth cohort. Prevalence varied by maternal age and ascertainment methods, highlighting the need for robust surveillance.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Epidemiology
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Major eye and ear anomalies are significant birth defects.
  • Anophthalmia/microphthalmia, anotia/microtia, and congenital cataract are key conditions studied.
  • Population-based surveillance data is crucial for understanding birth defect prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the prevalence of major eye and ear anomalies in a recent US birth cohort.
  • To analyze prevalence variations by maternal age, race/ethnicity, infant sex, and other factors.
  • To address data gaps in the surveillance of these specific birth defects.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized data from 30 population-based birth defects surveillance programs in the US.
  • Analyzed a 5-year birth cohort (2011-2015) covering approximately 12.4 million births.
  • Calculated prevalence and 95% confidence intervals, stratified by demographic and ascertainment factors.

Main Results:

  • Overall prevalence per 10,000 live births: anophthalmia/microphthalmia (1.5), congenital cataract (1.5), and anotia/microtia (1.8).
  • Prevalence varied by maternal age (higher in mothers 40+), infant sex, and laterality.
  • Active ascertainment programs reported higher prevalence for anophthalmia/microphthalmia and anotia/microtia compared to passive programs.

Conclusions:

  • Provides recent prevalence estimates for key eye and ear anomalies, filling a critical data gap.
  • Highlights the impact of maternal age and surveillance methodology on reported prevalence.
  • Emphasizes the importance of comprehensive birth defect surveillance systems for public health monitoring.
Abstract

Keywords:
anophthalmiaanotiabirth defectscataractcongenitalmicrophthalmiamicrotiapopulation-based surveillance

More Related Videos

A Simple Critical-sized Femoral Defect Model in Mice09:41

A Simple Critical-sized Femoral Defect Model in Mice

Published on: March 15, 2015

15.8K
A Full Skin Defect Model to Evaluate Vascularization of Biomaterials In Vivo07:56

A Full Skin Defect Model to Evaluate Vascularization of Biomaterials In Vivo

Published on: August 28, 2014

12.8K

Related Concept Videos

Lumber Defects01:23

Lumber Defects

Lumber defects, which can affect both the appearance and structural integrity of wood, include a variety of growth and manufacturing flaws. Growth defects such as knots and knotholes occur where branches were once attached to the tree trunk, with knotholes forming when these knots fall out. Other natural defects include decay and insect damage, which compromise the wood's strength and durability.
Shakes are minor fractures that run along or across the wood's annual rings, while wane is...
520
Focusing of Light in the Eye01:16

Focusing of Light in the Eye

Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, a transparent dome-shaped tissue that is the eye's outermost layer. The cornea bends or refracts, light rays traveling to the pupil. The shape of the cornea determines how much of the light is bent and whether the image will be focused correctly on the retina at the back of the eye. Once the light has passed through both refraction layers, it converges into a single focal point onto a small area. This is where photoreceptors start transforming...
5.9K
Conservation of Small Populations02:04

Conservation of Small Populations

Small population sizes put a species at extreme risk of extinction due to a lack of variation, and a consequent decrease in adaptability. This weakens the chances of survival under pressures such as climate change, competition from other species, or new diseases. Large populations are more likely to survive pressures such as these, as such populations are more likely to harbor individuals that have genetic variants that are adaptive under new stresses. Small populations are much less...
17.3K
Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data01:12

Analysis of Population Pharmacokinetic Data

Analysis of population pharmacokinetic data involves studying the behavior of drugs within diverse populations to understand their pharmacokinetic parameters. Traditional pharmacokinetic methods typically involve collecting samples from a few individuals and estimating these parameters. While these methods are commonly used, they have limitations in capturing the variability in drug response among individuals or heterogeneous populations. Population pharmacokinetics is employed to address these...
753
Birth Control Methods01:22

Birth Control Methods

Vasectomy is a surgical form of male sterilization that involves severing and sealing the vasa deferentia, preventing sperm from mixing with semen during ejaculation. Because a vasectomy does not impact the testes' ability to produce testosterone, hormone levels, libido, and sexual function generally remain unchanged. While vasectomy is highly effective in preventing pregnancy, with a success rate near 99.85%, rare cases of recanalization (spontaneous reconnection) can occur. Although...
6.8K
Measurement: Standard Units03:38

Measurement: Standard Units

Every measurement provides three kinds of information: the size or magnitude of the measurement (a number), a standard of comparison for the measurement (a unit), and an indication of the uncertainty of the measurement. While the number and unit are explicitly represented when a quantity is written, the uncertainty is an aspect of the errors in the measurement results.
79.9K