Risk factors for abdominal wall defects

In the last decades, the prevalence of gastroschisis (GS) has increased worldwide. The purpose of this study was to identify maternal risk factors explaining the described gain and to identify differences between GS and omphalocele (OC). A case-control design was used to compare GS (n = 36) and OC (n = 18) mothers to control group (CG; n = 30) matched for maternal age. Specialized questionnaires and mothers' prenatal records were used, and participants completed a structured interview. Focus was on medical history, changing nutrition, drug consumption, and external risk factors. The local ethics committee approved this study. GS mothers were significantly younger (mean 23.00; median 24; SD ±5) than OC (P = 0.007; mean 28.61; median 28, 19-41; SD ±5.1) and CG (P = 0.001; mean 30.77; median 31, SD ±6.2). Mothers with abdominal wall defects (AWD) ingested antibiotics more often (P = 0.008) than CG. Socioeconomic characteristics, for example, level of profession, of GS mothers was significantly lower than OC (P = 0.039) and CG (P = 0.05) mothers, and their cohabitation time was shorter (P < 0.05; mean 35 month/median 24 month, SD ±35.8). Incidence of OC significantly increased after hormonal treatment (P = 0.022) and invasive prenatal diagnostics (P < 0.05) compared to GS. GS mothers took folic acid prophylaxis less often than OC (P = 0.02). Smoking, illicit drugs, and external risks like herbicides showed no influence, but GS mothers drink significantly more often alcohol (P = 0.05). We confirmed an increased risk for GS if several factors such as young maternal age, short cohabitation time, and usage of antibiotics coincide with alcohol consumption and associated immune diseases. OC increased after hormonal treatment and invasive prenatal diagnostics.