Rajiv Khandekar1, Yasmin Jaffer. 1. Eye & Ear Health Care, Department of Non-communicable Diseases Control, Directorate General of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Oman.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: In 2003, the Omani Ministry of Health Child Health Care Program initiated a national Birth Defects (BD) Register. This paper reviews the magnitude and risk factors of birth defects in children born and registered in 2005 using data from the BD Register. METHODS: Pediatricians and neonatologists examined children with BDs found either during screening at birth or when attending clinics in their first year of their life. Clinical examination, laboratory, sonographic and radiological investigations were carried out. A pre-tested form was used to note personal details, type of birth defect including International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) codes of BD and selected risk factors. The incidence rates per 100 live births were calculated. RESULTS: The annual incidence of BD in Oman was 2.53% (95% CI 2.38-2.68). Males had a significantly higher risk of BD than females (relative risk (RR) = 2.0). The regional variation of BD was also significant (χ2 = 363). The incidence of anaemia due to enzyme disorders was 1.4%. BD of urogenital organs, hands and feet and Down's syndrome were the main types of anatomical defects. Consanguinity among parents (RR = 0.85) and low birth weight (RR = 0.28) was negatively associated to birth defects. Mothers giving birth at gestational age of <37 weeks (RR = 1.89) had a higher risk of having children with BD. Maternal and paternal age were not associated to BD. CONCLUSION: The national Register for BD is an important evaluation tool. Both genetic and acquired risk factors seem to affect BD rates and types in Oman.
OBJECTIVES: In 2003, the Omani Ministry of Health Child Health Care Program initiated a national Birth Defects (BD) Register. This paper reviews the magnitude and risk factors of birth defects in children born and registered in 2005 using data from the BD Register. METHODS: Pediatricians and neonatologists examined children with BDs found either during screening at birth or when attending clinics in their first year of their life. Clinical examination, laboratory, sonographic and radiological investigations were carried out. A pre-tested form was used to note personal details, type of birth defect including International Classification of Diseases-10 (ICD-10) codes of BD and selected risk factors. The incidence rates per 100 live births were calculated. RESULTS: The annual incidence of BD in Oman was 2.53% (95% CI 2.38-2.68). Males had a significantly higher risk of BD than females (relative risk (RR) = 2.0). The regional variation of BD was also significant (χ2 = 363). The incidence of anaemia due to enzyme disorders was 1.4%. BD of urogenital organs, hands and feet and Down's syndrome were the main types of anatomical defects. Consanguinity among parents (RR = 0.85) and low birth weight (RR = 0.28) was negatively associated to birth defects. Mothers giving birth at gestational age of <37 weeks (RR = 1.89) had a higher risk of having children with BD. Maternal and paternal age were not associated to BD. CONCLUSION: The national Register for BD is an important evaluation tool. Both genetic and acquired risk factors seem to affect BD rates and types in Oman.
Entities:
Keywords:
Birth defects; Congenital anomalies; Oman
Authors: Alessandra Lisi; Lorenzo D Botto; Monica Rittler; Eduardo Castilla; Sebastiano Bianca; Fabrizio Bianchi; Beverley Botting; Hermien De Walle; J David Erickson; Miriam Gatt; Catherine De Vigan; Lorentz Irgens; William Johnson; Paul Lancaster; Paul Merlob; Osvaldo M Mutchinick; Annukka Ritvanen; Elisabeth Robert; Gioacchino Scarano; Claude Stoll; Pierpaolo Mastroiacovo Journal: Am J Med Genet A Date: 2005-04-01 Impact factor: 2.802
Authors: Fahad Al-Wadani; Rajiv Khandekar; Muneera A Al-Hussain; Ahmed A Alkhawaja; Mohammed Sarfaraz Khan; Ramzy A Alsulaiman Journal: Sultan Qaboos Univ Med J Date: 2012-02-07