Abstract
Objectives: To investigate the trends in congenital anomalies-related hospital admissions in England and Wales. Methods: This was an ecological study that was conducted using hospital admission data taken from the Hospital Episode Statistics database in England and the Patient Episode Database for Wales. Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities hospital admissions data were extracted for the period between April 1999 and March 2019. Results: Hospital admission rate increased by 4.9% [from 198.74 (95% CI 197.53–199.94) in 1999 to 208.55 (95% CI 207.39–209.71) in 2019 per 100,000 persons, trend test, p < 0.01]. The most common hospital admissions causes were congenital malformations of the circulatory system, the musculoskeletal system, genital organs, and the digestive system. The most notable increase in hospital admissions rate was observed in congenital malformations of the respiratory system (1.01-fold). The age group below 15 years accounted for 75.1% of the total number of hospital admissions. Males contributed to 57.5% of the whole number of hospital admission. Hospital admission rate between females was increased by 6.4% [from 162.63 (95% CI 161.10–164.16) in 1999 to 173.05 (95% CI 171.57–174.54) in 2019 per 100,000 persons]. Hospital admission rate between males was increased by 3.4% [from 236.61 (95% CI 234.72–238.50) in 1999 to 244.70 (95% CI 242.92–246.49) in 2019 per 100,000 persons]. Conclusions: Males had a higher percentage of hospitalisation compared to females. Further studies to investigate the factors associated with higher hospitalisation rate among males are needed.
Highlights
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities are known as congenital anomalies or birth defects [1]
The most common hospital admissions causes were congenital malformations of the circulatory system, the musculoskeletal system, genital organs, the digestive system, and other congenital malformations which accounted for 20.1%, 19.5%, 14.2%, 12.0%, and 10.1%, respectively (Table 1)
A retrospective study of hospitalisation (2005 to 2015) due to congenital anomalies in Australia reported an overall increase in the trend of hospitalisation among patients with congenital anomalies, which was similar to our results [25]
Summary
Congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities are known as congenital anomalies or birth defects [1]. Congenital anomalies (CAs) are defined as behavioural, structural, metabolic, and functional disorders present at childbirth [2]. These congenital disorders can be diagnosed before or after childbirth [1,2]. The etiologies of congenital anomalies are estimated to be micronutrient deficiencies, single gene defects, multifactorial inheritance, chromosomal disorders, and environmental teratogens [3]. Lowincome may be an indirect reason for congenital anomalies; about 94% of severe congenital anomalies occur in low- and middle-income countries. In low- and middleincome countries, pregnant women are more susceptible to malnutrition, reduced access
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