Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies in Iran Publisher Pubmed



Khaleghnejadtabari A¹ ; Dastgiri S² ; Soori H³ ; Ansarimoghaddam A⁴ ; Ghaem H⁵ ; Latifi M⁶ ; Maracy MR⁷ ; Aslanabadi S² ; Roshanzamir F¹ ; Forootan HR⁵ ; Peivaste M⁶ ; Hoseinpour M⁸ ; Khaleghnejadtabari N¹ ; Abbasian A¹ Show All Authors Show Affiliations
Source: Archives of Iranian Medicine Published:2024

Abstract

Background: Annually, 3-8 million infants are born with congenital anomalies worldwide, ranging from 3% to 7% of births in different countries. This study aimed to investigate the nationwide epidemiological features of birth defects in Iran. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in six major regions across Iran. The data sources were the maternity facilities affiliated with regional universities of medical sciences. All children were examined by obstetricians, pediatricians, or midwives at birth, and newborns were followed until discharge from the facility for health status, maturity, and congenital defects. Results: A total of 138,643 births were registered in the maternity facilities across the study regions. Among these newborns, 3,458 cases were diagnosed with congenital anomalies, representing an overall prevalence rate of 249.4 per 10 000 births (95% CI: 241.2-257.8). Genital organ anomalies exhibited the highest rates of defects in the country with 92.7 per 10 000 births (95% CI: 86.4-98.9), followed by limb anomalies at 83.3 per 10 000 births (95% CI: 77.4-89.3). The prevalence of respiratory system, chromosomal, and urinary tract anomalies was less than 10 per 10 000 births. Conclusion: Until a national registry for congenital anomalies is established, this study provides essential data on the magnitude of the health problems caused by congenital anomalies in Iran. The findings would be vital for planning and evaluating antenatal screening for birth defects, particularly for high-risk groups and regions in the country. © 2024 Academy of Medical Sciences of I.R. Iran. All rights reserved.