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Etiology of Cleft Lip and/or Cleft Palate in Southeastern Poland Based on Current Observational Study
Margareta Budner1, Patrycja Korulczyk2, Agnieszka Lasota3
1Department of Plastic Reconstructive and Microsurgery, Medical University of Lublin, 20-093 Lublin, Poland.
Insights
Maternal infections, passive smoking, and stress during early pregnancy increase cleft lip and palate (CL/P) risk. Folic acid intake may reduce CL/P occurrence in newborns.
Area of Science:
- Medical Research
- Congenital Deformities
- Public Health
Background:
- Cleft lip and palate (CL/P) is a common facial congenital deformity with a multifactorial etiology.
- Identifying external risk factors for non-syndromic CL/P is crucial for prevention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate potential external risk factors associated with the occurrence of non-syndromic cleft lip and palate (CL/P).
Main Methods:
- A retrospective-prospective case record analysis of 224 patients treated for CL/P.
- Data collection involved medical records and parental questionnaires.
Main Results:
- Advanced paternal age, maternal infection, passive smoking, and stress in the first trimester were associated with increased CL/P risk.
- Maternal folic acid treatment in the first trimester was linked to a reduced risk of CL/P.
- Advanced paternal age and stress did not significantly impact isolated cleft lip or isolated cleft palate, respectively.
Conclusions:
- CL/P occurrence in Southeastern Poland is associated with maternal age and external factors like infections, passive smoking, and stress during early pregnancy.
- Maternal folic acid intake during the first trimester may lower the risk of CL/P.
- The observational nature of this study suggests these findings represent potential effects requiring further investigation.
Abstract:
Background/Objectives: There is a need to search for risk factors of CL/P, which is the most common facial congenital deformity due to its multifactorial etiology. This study aimed to assess the possible external factors influencing the occurrence of non-syndromic CL/P. Methods: Retrospective-prospective case record analysis was performed with a sample of 224 consecutively treated patients. The data were obtained from medical records and questionnaires completed by children's parents. Results: Factors that may have potentially increased the risk of CL/P were as follows: advanced paternal age (p = 0.014), mother experiencing an infection in the first trimester of pregnancy (p < 0.001), maternal passive smoking (p = 0.001) and stress during the first trimester of pregnancy (p = 0.003). Where mothers were treated with folic acid in the first trimester of pregnancy, in the whole sample the risk of a CL/P in newborns was reduced (p = 0.007). Advanced paternal age was unrelated to the occurrence of isolated CL, and stress did not increase the risk of isolated CP etiology. Maternal folic acid intake in the first trimester of pregnancy did not influence CLP occurrence. Conclusions: In a group of children from Southeastern Poland, the occurrence of CL/P was related to advanced maternal age and maternal external risk factors, such as infections, passive tobacco smoking and severe stress during the first trimester of pregnancy. Maternal folic acid intake during the first trimester reduced the risk of CL and CP. Due to the observational nature of the study, the above conclusions should be interpreted as a potential effect.
