A decreasing rate of neural tube defects following the recommendations for periconceptional folic acid supplementation

Background/aim: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the most common birth defects, resulting in severe mortality and morbidity. In 1995, the supplementation of folic acid periconceptionally was officially recommended in Germany. The impact of the recommendations on the rate of NTDs was assessed. Methods:...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta Paediatrica 2005-11, Vol.94 (11), p.1538-1542
Main Authors: KLUSMANN, ANNE, HEINRICH, BEATE, STÖPLER, HEIKE, GÄRTNER, JUTTA, MAYATEPEK, ERTAN, VON KRIES, RÜDIGER
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anencephaly - epidemiology
Anencephaly - prevention & control
Biological and medical sciences
Dietary Supplements
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Diseases of the spine
Female
Folic acid
Folic Acid - therapeutic use
General aspects
Germany - epidemiology
Humans
Incidence
Infant, Newborn
Medical sciences
neural tube defects
Neural Tube Defects - epidemiology
Neural Tube Defects - prevention & control
Patient Compliance
Population Surveillance
Pregnancy
Pregnancy Outcome
Prenatal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
prevention
Vitamin B Complex - therapeutic use
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Summary:Background/aim: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the most common birth defects, resulting in severe mortality and morbidity. In 1995, the supplementation of folic acid periconceptionally was officially recommended in Germany. The impact of the recommendations on the rate of NTDs was assessed. Methods: An active surveillance system was established in the northern Rhine area. From 1996, all departments of obstetrics were asked to report cases of NTDs in all abortions, live births and stillbirths. Compliance with the recommendations was evaluated in a sample of mothers who delivered at the Department of Obstetrics of Düsseldorf University in 2001. Results: From 1996–2003, 520 NTDs were reported. Compared to the rate of NTDs in 1996 (10.5/10000), the average incidence in the years 1997 to 2003 dropped (6.8/10000). The intake of folic acid, as recommended, was low among the general population (21.1%). Conclusion: Active surveillance data on the rate of NTDs are compatible with the maximum decrease of about 20% to be expected from data on the implementation of the recommendations. A much greater decrease in NTDs should be the challenge for the future.
ISSN:0803-5253
1651-2227
DOI:10.1080/08035250500340396