Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 11, 2025

Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods
08:28

Analysis of Congenital Heart Defects in Mouse Embryos Using Qualitative and Quantitative Histological Methods

Published on: March 10, 2020

7.0K

Prevalence and Infant Mortality of Major Congenital Malformations Stratified by Birthweight

Janine Kröger1, Christian Günster1, Günther Heller2

  • 1AOK Research Institute, Berlin, Germany.

Neonatology
|December 1, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Major congenital malformations (MCMs) are more common in low birthweight infants and significantly increase infant mortality across all birthweight categories. These conditions, especially in very low birthweight infants, are associated with higher mortality rates.

Area of Science:

  • Neonatalogy
  • Public Health
  • Pediatric Cardiology

Background:

  • Low birthweight and major congenital malformations (MCMs) are significant contributors to infant mortality.
  • Understanding the interplay between birthweight and MCMs is crucial for improving infant survival rates.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To determine the prevalence of MCMs in infants with varying birthweights.
  • To analyze the impact of MCMs and birthweight on infant mortality.

Main Methods:

  • A cohort study of 2,727,002 infants born in Germany between 2006-2017.
  • Utilized de-identified administrative data from a large statutory public health insurance system.
  • Examined 28 life-threatening MCMs in very-low-birthweight (<1,500 g, VLBW), low-birthweight (1,500-2,499 g, LBW), and normal-birthweight (≥2,500 g, NBW) infants.

Main Results:

  • MCMs were more prevalent in VLBW (1.3%) and LBW (4.0%) infants compared to NBW infants (94.7%).
  • Severe congenital heart disease was the most common MCM, affecting over 75% of affected infants.
  • Infant mortality rates were substantially higher for infants with MCMs across all birthweight groups, with VLBW infants with MCMs experiencing 28.5% mortality.

Conclusions:

  • Major congenital malformations are more frequently observed in infants with low and very low birthweight.
  • MCMs significantly increase excess mortality risk, particularly when occurring in conjunction with very low or low birthweight.
Abstract

Keywords:
Birth defectCongenital anomalyEpidemiologySurvivalVery-low-birthweight infant

More Related Videos

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound 30/45MHZ System07:34

Fetal Mouse Cardiovascular Imaging Using a High-frequency Ultrasound 30/45MHZ System

Published on: May 5, 2018

11.8K
A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis06:19

A Rat Model of Mild Intrauterine Hypoperfusion with Microcoil Stenosis

Published on: January 7, 2018

10.5K

Related Concept Videos

Teratogenicity01:07

Teratogenicity

The ability of a drug to produce structural deformations and functional abnormalities in the developing embryo or the fetus is called teratogenicity, and the drug producing this effect is known as a teratogen. Teratogenic effects include stillbirth, miscarriage, intrauterine growth restriction, and neurocognitive delay. A teratogen may affect the embryo at different stages of development, which is important in determining the type and extent of the damage. During blastocyst formation, the early...
3.0K
z Scores and Area Under the Curve01:17

z Scores and Area Under the Curve

z scores are the standardized values obtained after converting a normal distribution into a standard normal distribution. A z score is measured in units of the standard deviation. The z score tells you how many standard deviations the value x is above (to the right of) or below (to the left of) the mean, μ. Values of x that are larger than the mean have positive z scores, and values of x that are smaller than the mean have negative z scores. If x equals the mean, then x has a z score of...
13.8K
Meiosis vs. Mitosis02:57

Meiosis vs. Mitosis

Cell division is necessary for growth and reproduction in organisms. Mitosis aids cell growth and development by dividing somatic cells. In contrast, meiosis causes the division of germ cells and plays an essential role in sexual reproduction. Due to their unique functional requirements, mitosis and meiosis differ from each other in multiple aspects.
Before the start of mitosis and meiosis I, the cell synthesizes DNA, resulting in two homologous copies of each chromosome. DNA synthesis is...
60.9K
Prevalence and Incidence01:08

Prevalence and Incidence

In statistical epidemiology and health sciences, two essential metrics—prevalence and incidence—are fundamental for understanding disease dynamics within a population. These measures enable public health officials, epidemiologists, and researchers to assess the burden of diseases, allocate resources effectively, and design impactful public health policies and interventions.
Prevalence indicates the proportion of individuals in a population who have a specific disease or health...
931
Regression Toward the Mean01:52

Regression Toward the Mean

Regression toward the mean (“RTM”) is a phenomenon in which extremely high or low values—for example, and individual’s blood pressure at a particular moment—appear closer to a group’s average upon remeasuring. Although this statistical peculiarity is the result of random error and chance, it has been problematic across various medical, scientific, financial and psychological applications. In particular, RTM, if not taken into account, can interfere when...
6.5K
Neurulation01:30

Neurulation

Neurulation is the embryological process which forms the precursors of the central nervous system and occurs after gastrulation has established the three primary cell layers of the embryo: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. In humans, the majority of this system is formed via primary neurulation, in which the central portion of the ectoderm—originally appearing as a flat sheet of cells—folds upwards and inwards, sealing off to form a hollow neural tube. As development proceeds, the...
43.1K