Abstract
BackgroundBirth defects (BD) constitute an important public health issue as they are the main cause of infant death. Their prevalence in Europe for 2008–2012 was 25.6 per 1000 newborns. To date, there are no population-based studies for the Russian Federation. The aim of the present study is to estimate the prevalence of BD, its forms, and changes over time in the Russian Arctic city of Monchegorsk (Murmansk County) for the period 1973–2011.MethodsThe Murmansk County Birth Register and the Kola Birth Register were the primary sources of information, covering 30448 pregnancy outcomes in Monchegorsk (Murmansk County, Russia) during the study period.ResultsThe total perinatal prevalence of BD was 36.1/1000 live births (LB) and stillborn (SB) (95% CI = 34.0-38.2). After exclusions of minor malformations according to the European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies guidelines, it decreased to 26.5/1000 LB plus SB (95% CI = 24.6-28.3). The perinatal prevalence of BD that are obligatory to report in Russia was 7.3/1000 LB plus SB (95% CI = 6.4-8.3). There was a significant positive time-trend in total perinatal prevalence of birth defects across the study period (p < 0.001 for trend). Prevalence of all BD increased from 23.5/1000 to 46.3/1000 (LB plus SB), while that excluding minor defects rose from 17.7/1000 to 35.7/1000 (LB plus SB). The most prevalent group of defects was malformations of the musculoskeletal system, which represented 35.4% of all BD. The most prominent increase was observed for the urinary system, rising from 0.2/1000 to 19.1/1000 (LB plus SB).ConclusionsThe observed perinatal prevalence of BD in Monchegorsk increased two-fold during the 38-year study period. Further investigations to identify the underlying bases for the observed progressive growth in BD are recommended.
Highlights
Birth defects (BD) constitute an important public health issue as they are the main cause of infant death
The prevalence of BD in Europe is reported as 25.6/1000 newborns [live births (LB) plus stillborn (SB)] for the period 2008–2012 (European Surveillance of Congenital Anomalies, European surveillance of congenital anomalies (EUROCAT), data [1])
There were 96 cases (8.7%) of multiple BD [3.2/1000] among them
Summary
Birth defects (BD) constitute an important public health issue as they are the main cause of infant death. Their prevalence in Europe for 2008–2012 was 25.6 per 1000 newborns. Birth defects (BD) are recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO) as structural or functional anomalies that are present from birth They represent the main causes of infant deaths and morbidity in developed countries. There is only one register in the Moscow Oblast, which joined the International Clearinghouse for Birth Defects Surveillance and Research (ICBDSR) as a member in 2001 [6] This organization collects data for about 40 of the most severe anomalies and, based on this, the prevalence of BD in the Moscow
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