Related Experiment Videos
Is myelomeningocele a disappearing disease?
Insights
Central nervous system birth defects, including myelomeningocele, showed a steady decline in incidence over 12 years. However, anencephaly and hydrocephalus rates remained stable, questioning a common cause for these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Major congenital anomalies of the central nervous system represent a significant public health concern.
- Understanding the incidence and trends of these anomalies is crucial for prevention and intervention strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the incidence of anencephaly, myelomeningocele, and hydrocephalus in a large birth cohort.
- To analyze secular trends in the occurrence of these central nervous system anomalies over a 12-year period.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of birth data from Brooklyn, New York hospitals (1968-1979).
- Calculation of anomaly frequencies per 100,000 total births.
- Comparison with regional reports to assess long-term trends.
Main Results:
- Anencephaly, myelomeningocele, and hydrocephalus occurred at 47.1, 42.4, and 49.3 cases per 100,000 births, respectively.
- Myelomeningocele incidence decreased linearly by approximately 4.6 cases per 100,000 births annually.
- No significant declines or uniform trends were observed for anencephaly or hydrocephalus.
Conclusions:
- A consistent, long-term linear decline in myelomeningocele incidence is evident, potentially masked by local data variations.
- Epidemiologic differences suggest distinct etiologies for myelomeningocele compared to anencephaly.
- Further research is needed to elucidate the specific causes of these distinct congenital anomalies.
Abstract:
The incidence of major congenital anomalies of the central nervous system was determined in a study of more than 233,000 births in Brooklyn, New York hospitals during the years 1968 to 1979. Anencephaly, myelomeningocele, and hydrocephalus occurred at frequencies of 47.1, 42.4, and 49.3 cases per 100,000 total births, respectively. During the 12 years of the study, the incidence of myelomeningocele decreased at a linear rate of approximately 4.6 cases per 100,000 births per year. A review of comparable reports on births in the northeastern region of the United States shows that a relatively consistent linear decline in myelomeningocele incidence has been proceeding at this rate for the past 50 years. It is concluded that minor local fluctuations and variability in data collection have obscured the steady decrease in occurrence. No significant declines were seen in the incidence rates of anencephaly or hydrocephalus, nor were uniform secular trends for these anomalies evident from previous reports. Epidemiologic differences between myelomeningocele and anencephaly are noted and their common etiology is questioned.