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Orofacial Cleft and Poor Birth Health Outcomes: A Populational Cross-Sectional Study
Adriana Mendonça da Silva1,2, Valéria Souza Freitas1, Alexandre Rezende Vieira2
1Department of Health, State University of Feira de Santana, Feira de Santana, BA, Brazil.
Insights
Newborns with orofacial clefts face higher risks for poor birth outcomes, including low birth weight and preterm birth. These findings highlight the importance of monitoring and support for infants with cleft conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
- Genetics
Background:
- Orofacial clefts are common congenital anomalies.
- Existing research suggests potential links between orofacial clefts and adverse birth outcomes, but comprehensive population-based data is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of poor birth health outcomes in newborns with orofacial clefts.
- To identify specific adverse birth outcomes associated with orofacial clefts using a large population-based dataset.
Main Methods:
- A population-based cross-sectional study utilizing U.S. Vital Statistics Natality Birth Data (2017-2023).
- Analysis included over 25 million live births, comparing infants with and without orofacial clefts.
- Prevalence ratios and logistic regression models were employed to assess associations between orofacial cleft status and various birth health variables.
Main Results:
- Newborns with orofacial clefts exhibited significantly higher prevalence of cesarean delivery, low birth weight, lower 5-minute Apgar scores, and prematurity.
- Increased rates of abnormal birth conditions and difficulties with breastfeeding were observed in infants with orofacial clefts.
- These associations remained statistically significant even after adjustments, with nonisolated clefts showing even higher prevalence ratios for adverse outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Newborns with orofacial clefts are at an increased prevalence of adverse birth health outcomes.
- Orofacial clefts are associated with a higher susceptibility to low birth weight and preterm birth.
- The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions and care for infants diagnosed with orofacial clefts.
Abstract:
This study aimed to examine whether newborns with orofacial clefts are at increased prevalence of poor birth health outcomes.This is a population-based cross-sectional study, conducted with information from 25,879,282 live births registered in the U.S. Vital Statistics Natality Birth Data from 2017 to 2023. The prevalence ratios and logistic regression models between orofacial cleft status (all, isolated, or nonisolated) and each child's birth health variables (delivery method, maternal morbidity, 5-minute Apgar score, gestational age, birth weight, abnormal conditions, infant breastfed at discharge) were calculated, assuming a p ≤ 0.05 as statistically significant.The prevalence ratios showed that newborns with orofacial clefts were more susceptible to being born by cesarean section (prevalence ratio [PR] = 1.18, p = 0.000, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.16-1.21), having lower birth weight (PR = 2.18, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 2.11-2.25), lower Apgar 5 score (PR = 4.08, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 4.08-4.50), prematurity (PR = 1.55, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 1.50-1.60), experiencing more abnormal conditions at birth (PR = 3.72, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 3.64-3.80), and having more difficulty to be breastfed (PR = 2.16, p = 0.000, 95% CI = 2.11-2.22) than newborns without clefts. These ratios were even higher among those with nonisolated orofacial clefts. Associations were statistic significant even after adjustments.This study provides evidence that newborns with orofacial clefts are at increased prevalence of poor birth health outcomes. · Orofacial clefts are associated to higher prevalence of birth outcomes.. · Newborns with orofacial clefts were more susceptible to have low birth weight.. · Newborns with orofacial clefts were more susceptible to preterm birth..
