The sex ratio in spina bifida

Area of Science:

• Medical Science
• Pediatrics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Spina bifida is a complex neural tube defect with varying prevalence and potential demographic associations.
• Understanding the sex ratio of spina bifida is crucial for epidemiological studies and understanding its etiology.
• Previous research has explored demographic factors, but the sex ratio's consistency requires further examination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review published data on the sex ratio of spina bifida.
• To determine if the sex ratio of spina bifida varies with prevalence or across different racial groups.
• To investigate the sex ratio of spina bifida in twin births.

Main Methods:

• Systematic review of published reports on spina bifida cases.
• Analysis of sex distribution in liveborn and stillborn spina bifida births.
• Comparison of sex ratios across different populations and in twin versus singleton births.

Main Results:

• The overall sex ratio (M/(M+F)) for spina bifida is approximately 0.44, indicating a slight male predominance.
• No significant variation in the sex ratio was found in relation to the malformation's prevalence or between White and Black populations.
• Spina bifida cases occurring in twins exhibited a disproportionately higher frequency of females compared to non-twin cases.

Conclusions:

• The sex ratio of spina bifida appears stable across different populations and prevalence rates, unlike anencephaly.
• The increased proportion of females with spina bifida in twin gestations represents a notable exception that warrants further research.
• Further investigation is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms contributing to the altered sex ratio in twin-associated spina bifida.