Influence of prenatal diagnosis and pregnancy termination of fetuses with birth defects on the perinatal mortality rate in Victoria, Australia

• Published in: Paediatric and perinatal epidemiology 2005-01, Vol.19 (1), p.50-55
• Main Authors: Davidson, Natasha, Halliday, Jane, Riley, Merilyn, King, James
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Abortion, Induced - mortality; Abortion, Induced - trends; Congenital Abnormalities - mortality; Female; Fetus - abnormalities; Gestational Age; Humans; Infant Mortality - trends; Infant, Newborn; Poisson Distribution; Pregnancy; Prenatal Diagnosis - mortality; Victoria - epidemiology
• ISSN: 0269-5022; 1365-3016
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-3016.2004.00620.x

Summary Historical data show that in Victoria birth defects have accounted for approximately 25% of all perinatal deaths. Terminations of pregnancies (TOPs) for birth defects occurring at ≥20 weeks gestation are included in the population‐based perinatal data collection. These are classified as stillbirths or neonatal deaths. Some would have survived the perinatal period if no termination had taken place, and as a result they have the effect of increasing the perinatal mortality rate (PMR). Conversely, TOPs 50% likelihood of death, ‘possibly lethal’ 15–50% and ‘non‐lethal’ less than 15%. Based on these ‘lethality’ groups and associated assumptions about average survival rates beyond the neonatal period, the PMR was recalculated. TOPs for ‘non‐lethal’ birth defects at ≥20 weeks gestation increased the PMR by 3.8%. TOPs for ‘lethal’ birth defects