Epidemiology of Birth Defects in Eastern China and the Associated Risk Factors

Abstract

Background This study aimed to survey the overall situation of birth defects (BDs) among citizens of Hangzhou, China, and the risk factors of different BD types. Material/Methods We collected the data of 4349 perinatal infants with BDs in Hangzhou. The potentially associated risk factors of BDs were recorded and logistic regression analysis was used to predict the high incidence of BDs. Results Among all perinatal infants with BDs, there were 4105 (94.3%) single births, 225 (5.2%) twin births, and 10 (0.2%) multiple births. In clinical outcomes, there were 2477 (57.0%) live births, 1806 (41.5%) dead fetuses, and 11 (0.3%) stillbirths. Down syndrome ranked first, accounting for 30.7% of the total births, followed by cleft lip and polydactyly. Low family income, nulliparity, high parity, high education level, and taking contraceptives in early pregnancy were found to be risk factors of Down syndrome. Low parity, low education level, and pesticide exposure were found to be risk factors of cleft lip. For polydactyly, young age of the mother and a parity above 0 were identified as risk factors. Conclusions Different risks factors can influence BD development and potentially help to predict specific BD types, such as demographic features and harmful exposure in early pregnancy.

Spatio-temporal and spatial regression analyses of birth defects in Guangxi, China, 2016-2020

“…For another, the educational level of pregnant women is often to be considered when exploring the risk factors of BDs. However, some studies indicated that pregnant women with low educational levels were found to be the risk factors for overall BDs (OR = 8.40, 95% CI: 2.17 to 32.52) 63 , while some other studies showed that pregnant women with high educational levels were found to be the risk factors of BDs such as down syndrome 64 . In addition, high family monthly income is also found to be a risk factor for BDs such as syndactyly 64 .…”

Epidemiology of birth defects based on a birth defects surveillance system in southwestern China and the associated risk factors

“…However, it is well known that there is no consensus on whether the high maternal education level is a risk factor or a protective factor for BDs. Most scholars indicate that low maternal educational level is a risk factor for BDs (39,44), because it can significantly increase the risk of having a fetus with BDs (OR = 8.40, 95% CI: 2.17-32.52) (45), but other researchers find that high maternal educational level is also a risk factor for BDs, such as DS (11). In this study, it is observed that pregnant women with high education levels were more likely to give birth to a fetus with BDs.…”

“…It is well known that approximately 65.00%-70.00% of BDs are ascribed to complex genetics with unknown factors (2). Several researchers have also shown that the potential associated risk factors of BDs included maternal age, gravidity, parity, monthly income of the family, education level of pregnant women (11), household registration, history of miscarriages, family history of BDs, infection, taking medicine, pesticide exposure, and single/twin pregnancy (12). Therefore, how to effectively prevent BDs has become very urgent and important.…”

Birth defects data from hospital-based birth defect surveillance in Guilin, China, 2018–2020

“…The overall prevalence of BDs might have increased, and approximately 3–5% of births worldwide are affected by BDs ( 2 , 4 ). In China, the prevalence of BD ranges from 0.715 to 19.184% ( 8 ). Recently, increase attention has been paid to BDs in low-income provinces of southwestern China.…”