Season, household registry and isolated birth defects: a population-based case-control study in Danyang, China

• Published in: International health 2024-09, Vol.16 (5), p.562-567
• Main Authors: Miao, Shuhan, Liu, Liqun, Tang, Yanlin, Ge, Hongyan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Case-Control Studies; China - epidemiology; Cleft Lip - epidemiology; Cleft Palate - epidemiology; Congenital Abnormalities - epidemiology; Family Characteristics; Female; Heart Defects, Congenital - epidemiology; Humans; Infant, Newborn; Male; Original; Polydactyly - epidemiology; Pregnancy; Registries; Risk Factors; Seasons
• ISSN: 1876-3413; 1876-3405; 1876-3405
• DOI: 10.1093/inthealth/ihae034

Abstract Background A birth population-based study was conducted in Danyang, Jiangsu Province, to evaluate major birth defects in emerging regions in China with similar maternal and neonatal care conditions. Methods We conducted a population-based study in a cohort of infants born in Danyang from 2014 to 2021, including 55 709 perinatal infants. Four categories of isolated birth defects were defined as cases: congenital heart defects (CHDs; n=2138), polydactyly (n=145), cleft lip with or without palate (CL/P; n=76) and accessory auricles (n=93). Infants with congenital malformations were identified by the Chinese Birth Defects Monitoring Network. Results Compared with autumn, conception in spring (OR=1.31 [1.16–1.48]) and winter (OR=1.39 [1.23–1.58]) was associated with an increased risk of CHD. Increased risk of CHD, CL/P and accessory auricles was significantly associated with non-local registered residence (OR=1.17 [1.07–1.28], OR=2.73 [1.52–4.88] and OR=2.11 [1.20–3.71], respectively). Individuals of Han nationality were less likely to have polydactyly (OR=0.23 [0.05–0.98]). Conclusions The season of pregnancy was significantly associated with CHDs. Offspring of mothers with non-local registered hometown had greater risks of CHDs, CL/P and accessory auricles.