Hospitalization Trends for Airway Infections and In-Hospital Complications in Cleft Lip and Palate

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Health
• Birth Defects Research
• Public Health Surveillance

Background:

• Cleft lip and/or palate are common congenital anomalies affecting 1-2 per 1000 newborns.
• These conditions often lead to frequent hospitalizations, but specific risks remain underexplored.
• Understanding hospitalization and complication rates is crucial for optimizing care and resource allocation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify hospitalization rates for airway infections and all causes in infants with cleft lip or palate.
• To assess in-hospital complications and mortality risks in this vulnerable pediatric population.
• To analyze outcomes stratified by age and surgical intervention modality.

Main Methods:

• Nationwide, population-based cohort study utilizing Swiss Federal Statistical Office claims data (2012-2021).
• Inclusion of all newborns with complete birth records.
• Analysis of hospitalization rates, in-hospital outcomes, and mortality over the first two years of life.

Main Results:

• Infants with cleft lip or palate exhibited significantly higher incidence rate ratios for hospitalizations due to airway infections (2.33) and any cause (3.72).
• A substantial increase in the odds of mortality (17.97) was observed in this cohort.
• Elevated odds of critical in-hospital complications, including intubation (2.37), ECMO (2.89), CPR (3.25), and respiratory support (1.94), were noted.

Conclusions:

• Cleft lip or palate presence is strongly associated with increased hospitalization for respiratory infections and other medical issues.
• These infants face significantly higher risks of mortality and severe in-hospital complications.
• Findings underscore the heightened healthcare needs and resource utilization associated with cleft lip and palate.