Regional Patterns of Infant Mortality Caused by Lethal Congenital Anomalies

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the regional patterns of infant mortality due to lethal congenital anomalies, and the potential reasons for the regional patterns. Method: The study analyzed 2,507 infant deaths due to lethal congenital anomalies among 1,178,452 live births in 9 of the 12 Canadian provinces and territories from 1990 to 1995 recorded in Statistics Canada’s live birth and death data bases. Results: Compared with the province of Quebec, congenital anomaly-attributed infant mortality was higher in Newfoundland, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. These differences in infant mortality were substantial for cardiovascular system anomalies and especially anen-cephaly. For infant mortality due to chromosomal anomalies, however, there was little interprovincial variation. Conclusions: Despite substantial recent reductions in lethal congenital anomaly-attributed infant mortality, there remain major regional variations in infant mortality caused by certain forms of congenital anomalies including anen-cephaly and cardiovascular system anomalies.