A national cohort study evaluating infant and fetal mortality caused by birth defects in Korea

Abstract

ObjectiveTo analyse the prevalence of fetal and infant deaths due to birth defects in Korea and those trends according to maternal age.DesignRetrospective national cohort studySettingKorean Vital Statistics database of the Korean Statistical Information Service, between 2009 and 2015.Participants2176 infant deaths and 4343 fetal deaths caused by birth defects, among 3 181 145 total live births and 43 385 fetal deaths during the study periods.MethodsInfant and fetal mortality rates (IMRs and FMRs) by birth defects, from deaths caused by birth defects, were analysed. They were compared, according to maternal age groups: (I) ‘10–19 years’; (II) ‘20–29 years’; (III) ‘30–34 years’; (IV) ‘35–39 years’; and (V) ‘40–55 years’.Main outcome measuresIMRs and FMRs by birth defects and comparison according to maternal age group.ResultsIMRs and FMRs by birth defects were 6.84 per 10 000 live births and 13.47 per 10 000 total births. The most common causes of infant deaths and fetal deaths by birth defect were anomaly of the circulatory system (51.1%, IMR 3.5) and chromosomal abnormality (33.1%, FMR 4.46), respectively. Among groups by maternal age, FMRs by birth defects were significantly higher in groups I and V compared with group III (OR 6.59, 95% CI 3.49 to 12.43; and OR 3.46, 95% CI 1.77 to 6.78, respectively). IMR and FMR by nervous system anomaly were significantly higher in group I at 3.63 (OR 2.0, 95% CI 1.97 to 2.03) and 29.84 (OR 15.04, 95% CI 3.59 to 62.96) compared with 0.32 and 1.97 in group III.ConclusionFMRs by birth defects were the highest in the extreme maternal age groups. Severe anomalies, except for chromosomal abnormality, were most prevalent in teenage pregnancies.

Changes in maternal age and prevalence of congenital anomalies during the enactment of China's universal two-child policy (2013–2017) in Zhejiang Province, China: An observational study

“…However, few studies have conducted a comprehensive investigation of the epidemiology of BDs with respect to the birth policy changes in China. BDs or congenital anomalies are defined as structural or functional anomalies occurring in a fetus or newborn and are the leading causes of infant death globally [16][17][18][19][20].…”

Assessing the value of reviewing all fetal death records for birth defects surveillance, compared to only those with maternal anomaly codes

“…In a Korean study, Ko et al found the most common causes of fetal and infant deaths related to birth defects involve circulatory system and chromosomal abnormalities, respectively (2017). Ko et al also reports that chromosomal defects are among the most common types of birth defects (2017).…”

“…In a Korean study, Ko et al found the most common causes of fetal and infant deaths related to birth defects involve circulatory system and chromosomal abnormalities, respectively (2017). Ko et al also reports that chromosomal defects are among the most common types of birth defects (2017). With birth defects known to be the cause of approximately 20% of all infant deaths, and chromosomal abnormalities being among the most common types of birth defects, excluding stillbirths in surveillance of chromosomal defects would clearly impact the overall count and general knowledge of the occurrence of these defects.…”

Prenatal Diagnosis of Congenital Heart Diseases and Associations with Serum Biomarkers of Aneuploidy: A Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study

“…Therefore, screening during the second trimester for CHD via ultrasonography is very important. 1 Prenatal diagnosis of critical CHD prior to planned neonatal cardiac surgery could reduce the risk of death from cardiovascular compromise. 2 In addition, the importance of interdisciplinary parental counseling for prenatally diagnosed congenital disease has been emphasized, especially for CHD.…”