Prevalence and associated factors of clubfoot in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia: A hospital-based study

Abstract

BACKGROUND Clubfoot, or congenital talipes equinovarus, is a widely recognized cause of disability and congenital deformity worldwide, which significantly impacts the quality of life. Effective management of clubfoot requires long-term, multidisciplinary intervention. It is important to understand how common this condition is in order to assess its impact on the population. Unfortunately, few studies have investigated the prevalence of clubfoot in Saudi Arabia. AIM To determine the prevalence of clubfoot in Saudi Arabia via the patient population at King Fahad University Hospital (KFUH). METHODS This was a retrospective study conducted at one of the largest hospitals in the country and located in one of the most densely populated of the administrative regions. RESULTS Of the 7792 births between 2015 to 2023 that were included in the analysis, 42 patients were diagnosed with clubfoot, resulting in a prevalence of 5.3 per 1000 live births at KFUH. CONCLUSION The observed prevalence of clubfoot was significantly higher than both global and local estimates, indicating a substantial burden in the study population.