Renata H Benjamin1, Jason L Salemi2,3, Mark A Canfield4, Wendy N Nembhard5, Cecilia Ganduglia Cazaban6, KuoJen Tsao7,8, Anthony Johnson7,8, A J Agopian1. 1. Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA. 2. College of Public Health and Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida, USA. 3. Department of Family and Community Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA. 4. Birth Defects Epidemiology and Surveillance Branch, Texas Department of State Health Services, Austin, Texas, USA. 5. Department of Epidemiology, Fay W. Boozman College of Public Health and Arkansas Center for Birth Defects Research and Prevention, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA. 6. Department of Management, Policy, and Community Health, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, Texas, USA. 7. Department of Pediatric Surgery, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA. 8. Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, McGovern Medical School at UTHealth and Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The proportion of deaths attributed to various causes has not been quantified among infants with birth defects. We sought to describe the causes of neonatal and postneonatal death among infants in the Texas Birth Defects Registry. METHODS: We calculated frequencies and percentages for both underlying causes and all causes (underlying or contributing) of neonatal (0-27 days) and postneonatal (28-364 days) death listed on death certificates among infants born alive with birth defects and delivered in Texas during 1999-2013 (n = 8,389 deaths). Analyses were repeated separately for infants with isolated, multiple, and syndromic defects. RESULTS: After birth defects, the most frequently listed causes of neonatal death were preterm/low birth weight (10%), circulatory system diseases (8%), and sepsis (5%). The leading postneonatal causes of death beyond birth defects were circulatory system diseases (32%), sepsis (11%), and renal failure (7%). CONCLUSIONS: Improved understanding of the causes of mortality among infants with birth defects may help identify priorities for postnatal care. Our results suggest that potentially modifiable causes of death (e.g., circulatory system diseases, sepsis) contribute substantially to mortality in this population. Prioritizing continued improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and management of preventable conditions may reduce mortality among infants born with birth defects.
BACKGROUND: The proportion of deaths attributed to various causes has not been quantified among infants with birth defects. We sought to describe the causes of neonatal and postneonatal death among infants in the Texas Birth Defects Registry. METHODS: We calculated frequencies and percentages for both underlying causes and all causes (underlying or contributing) of neonatal (0-27 days) and postneonatal (28-364 days) death listed on death certificates among infants born alive with birth defects and delivered in Texas during 1999-2013 (n = 8,389 deaths). Analyses were repeated separately for infants with isolated, multiple, and syndromic defects. RESULTS: After birth defects, the most frequently listed causes of neonatal death were preterm/low birth weight (10%), circulatory system diseases (8%), and sepsis (5%). The leading postneonatal causes of death beyond birth defects were circulatory system diseases (32%), sepsis (11%), and renal failure (7%). CONCLUSIONS: Improved understanding of the causes of mortality among infants with birth defects may help identify priorities for postnatal care. Our results suggest that potentially modifiable causes of death (e.g., circulatory system diseases, sepsis) contribute substantially to mortality in this population. Prioritizing continued improvements in prevention, diagnosis, and management of preventable conditions may reduce mortality among infants born with birth defects.
Authors: Brenna S Fullerton; Cristine S Velazco; Eric A Sparks; Kate A Morrow; Erika M Edwards; Roger F Soll; Biren P Modi; Jeffrey D Horbar; Tom Jaksic Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2017-07-13 Impact factor: 4.406
Authors: Joseph A Spinner; Shaine A Morris; Deipanjan Nandi; Andrew T Costarino; Bradley S Marino; Joseph W Rossano; Pirouz Shamszad Journal: Pediatr Crit Care Med Date: 2020-03 Impact factor: 3.624
Authors: D B McElhinney; H L Hedrick; D M Bush; G R Pereira; P W Stafford; J W Gaynor; T L Spray; G Wernovsky Journal: Pediatrics Date: 2000-11 Impact factor: 7.124
Authors: Renata H Benjamin; Xiao Yu; Maria Luisa Navarro Sanchez; Han Chen; Laura E Mitchell; Peter H Langlois; Mark A Canfield; Michael D Swartz; Angela E Scheuerle; Daryl A Scott; Hope Northrup; Christian P Schaaf; Joseph W Ray; Scott D McLean; Philip J Lupo; A J Agopian Journal: Birth Defects Res Date: 2019-07-16 Impact factor: 2.344