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Birth Defects
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Key Findings > National Estimates of
and Racial and Ethnic Variations Among Selected Birth Defects |
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National Estimates of and Racial and
Ethnic Variations Among Selected Birth Defects
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Birth defects affect about 3% of all U.S. births. They are a
leading cause of infant death and childhood disease and disability.
This study looked at 21 birth defects for 1999–2001. National
prevalence was estimated for each defect by pooling data from 11
states with active case-finding and adjusting for the racial and
ethnic distributions of U.S. livebirths
- CDC researchers and colleagues estimated the prevalence of
selected birth defects in the United States and assessed racial
and ethnic differences in those defects.
- The study also assessed racial and ethnic variations in the
selected birth defects.
- National estimates from 1999–2001 ranged from 329 cases of
truncus arteriosus (a heart defect) each year to 5,429 cases of
Down syndrome each year.
- Many variations by race and ethnicity were found. Compared
with infants of non-Hispanic white mothers:
- Infants of non-Hispanic black or African-American
mothers had a significantly higher birth prevalence of
tetralogy of Fallot, lower limb reduction defects, and
trisomy 18. Prevalence was significantly lower for cleft
palate, cleft lip with or without cleft palate, esophageal
atresia/tracheoesophageal fistula, gastroschisis, and Down
syndrome (DS).
- Infants of Hispanic mothers had a significantly higher
birth prevalence of anencephalus, spina bifida,
encephalocele, gastroschisis, andDS. Prevalence was
significantly lower for tetralogy of Fallot, hypoplastic
left heart syndrome, cleft palate without cleft lip, and
esophageal atresia or tracheoesophageal fistula.
- This study can be used to evaluate individual state
surveillance data, and to help plan for public health and
educational services. It also provides valuable data on racial
and ethnic patterns of selected major birth defects.
- Data used for this study were from the National Birth
Defects Prevention Network (NBDPN), which collects state-level
data on the occurrence of 45 categories of major birth defects
from 35 U.S. surveillance programs.
Estimated annual number of cases in the United States of selected
birth defects based on data from 11 states with active surveillance
systems.
Adjusted for Maternal Race or Ethnicity |
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Estimated
Annual
Number of
Cases |
Central nervous system defects |
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Anencephalus |
1,009 |
Spina bifida without anencephalus |
1,477 |
Encephalocele |
376 |
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Eye
defects |
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Anophthalmia or microphthalmia |
834 |
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Cardiovascular defects |
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Truncus arteriosus (also known as common truncus) |
329 |
Transposition of great arteries |
1,901 |
Tetralogy of Fallot |
1,574 |
Atrioventricular septal
defect (also known as endocardial cushion defect) |
1,748 |
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome |
975 |
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Orofacial defects |
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Cleft palate without cleft lip |
2,567 |
Cleft lip with or without cleft palate |
4,209 |
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Gastrointestinal defects |
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Esophageal atresia/ tracheosophageal fistula |
952 |
Rectal and large intestinal atresia or stenosis |
1,931 |
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Musculoskeletal defects |
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Reduction defect, upper limbs |
1,521 |
Reduction defect, lower limbs |
763 |
Gastroschisis |
1,497 |
Omphalocele |
839 |
Diaphragmatic hernia |
1,179 |
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Chromosomal defects |
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Down syndrome (trisomy 21) |
5,132 |
Trisomy 13 |
526 |
Trisomy 18 |
930 |
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Estimated
Annual
No. of
Cases |
Chromosomal defects |
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Down syndrome (trisomy 21) |
5,429 |
Trisomy 13 |
528 |
Trisomy 18 |
959 |
Canfield MA, Honein MA, Yuskiv N, Xing J, Mai CT, Collins JS, et al.
National Estimates and Race/Ethnic-Specific Variation of Selected
Birth Defects in the United States, 1999-2001. Birth Defects Res
Part A Clin Mol Teratol. 2006 Nov;76(11):747–56.
Date:
January 14, 2008
Content source: National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental
Disabilities
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