Retrospective Investigation of the Incidence of Patients with Neural Tube Defects During the Pandemic Period, Single Center Study

Abstract

Objective: Our aim in this study is as a result of the measures taken during the Covid 19 epidemic period; investigate whether factors related to immobilization due to the ban on going outdoors, carbon dioxide retention due to the use of masks, inability to perform appropriate pregnancy vizits on time and stress-related factors on pregnant women during the disease period increase the incidence of neural tube defects in both Turkish society and Syrian refugees living in Turkey. Materials and Methods: The data in the study were obtained from the archive of the single-center Şanlıurfa Research and Training Hospital. In this study, live births in the hospital archive between 01.01.2018-31.12.2019 and 01.01.2020-31.12.2021 and patients who were operated for neural tube defects were examined. Results: In the Turkish population, the incidence of neural tube defects in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 was found to be 0.077%, 0.186%, 0.298% and 0.436%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between these years (p<0.001) (2018 and other years). The incidence of neural tube defects in refugees of Syrian origin in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021 was found to be 0.148%, 0.145%, 0.483% and 0.603%, respectively. There was a statistically significant difference between the years specified in refugees of Syrian origin (p<0.001) (2019 vs 2020 and 2019 vs. 2021). In 2020, the incidence of neural tube defects in refugees of Syrian origin (0.483%) was found to be significantly higher than the incidence of neural tube defects in the Turkish population (0.298%) (p=0.039). Conclusion: We detected an increase in neural tube defects due to the restrictions brought by the pandemic. The incidence increase between the sexes was similar. Incidence rates were similar in both Turks and Syrians in the years except 2020.