OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of the kernicterus diagnosis in a clinical register in Denmark and to describe occurrence and obstetric outcome in children with a validated kernicterus diagnosis. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Denmark. POPULATION: All children born from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2003. METHODS: We established a national population-based cohort of children with a diagnosis of kernicterus based on data obtained from a mandatory national register and from a clinically established cohort. Information on obstetric outcome and child development was obtained from the registers and from the medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Validation of the kernicterus diagnosis and description of obstetric and long-term outcomes in children with kernicterus. RESULTS: We found 15 children with a diagnosis of kernicterus in the Danish National Hospital Register and eight children with a diagnosis of kernicterus in a clinically established cohort. A total of nine children had a validated diagnosis of kernicterus which leads to a cumulative incidence of kernicterus in Denmark of 1.3/100.000 newborns. Most of the nine children experienced suboptimal growth but otherwise normal pregnancy and delivery outcomes. All except one child developed severe neurological impairment in childhood. CONCLUSION: Kernicterus is still an existing disease in Denmark. The children with kernicterus experienced overall normal pregnancy and delivery outcomes but long-term outcomes were affected. Validation of the kernicterus diagnosis in the hospital register was necessary.
OBJECTIVE: To validate the use of the kernicterus diagnosis in a clinical register in Denmark and to describe occurrence and obstetric outcome in children with a validated kernicterus diagnosis. DESIGN: Population-based cohort study. SETTING: Denmark. POPULATION: All children born from 1 January 1994 to 31 December 2003. METHODS: We established a national population-based cohort of children with a diagnosis of kernicterus based on data obtained from a mandatory national register and from a clinically established cohort. Information on obstetric outcome and child development was obtained from the registers and from the medical records. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Validation of the kernicterus diagnosis and description of obstetric and long-term outcomes in children with kernicterus. RESULTS: We found 15 children with a diagnosis of kernicterus in the Danish National Hospital Register and eight children with a diagnosis of kernicterus in a clinically established cohort. A total of nine children had a validated diagnosis of kernicterus which leads to a cumulative incidence of kernicterus in Denmark of 1.3/100.000 newborns. Most of the nine children experienced suboptimal growth but otherwise normal pregnancy and delivery outcomes. All except one child developed severe neurological impairment in childhood. CONCLUSION: Kernicterus is still an existing disease in Denmark. The children with kernicterus experienced overall normal pregnancy and delivery outcomes but long-term outcomes were affected. Validation of the kernicterus diagnosis in the hospital register was necessary.
Authors: Morten Schmidt; Sigrun Alba Johannesdottir Schmidt; Jakob Lynge Sandegaard; Vera Ehrenstein; Lars Pedersen; Henrik Toft Sørensen Journal: Clin Epidemiol Date: 2015-11-17 Impact factor: 4.790