Birth prevalence and recurrence rates of neural tube defects in southern Alberta in 1970-81

Given the observed variation in birth prevalence and recurrence rates of neural tube defects, it is important to obtain such data specific to a given locality for research and genetic counseling purposes. A review of hospital medical charts, the patient lists of the Medical Genetics and Myelomeningo...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Canadian Medical Association journal (CMAJ) 1988-05, Vol.138 (9), p.819-823
Main Authors: Thunem, N Y, Lowry, R B, Tucker, B J, Medd, B W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Alberta
Anencephaly - epidemiology
Anencephaly - genetics
Encephalocele - epidemiology
Encephalocele - genetics
Female
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Neural Tube Defects - epidemiology
Neural Tube Defects - genetics
Pregnancy
Spina Bifida Occulta - epidemiology
Spina Bifida Occulta - genetics
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Given the observed variation in birth prevalence and recurrence rates of neural tube defects, it is important to obtain such data specific to a given locality for research and genetic counseling purposes. A review of hospital medical charts, the patient lists of the Medical Genetics and Myelomeningocele clinics at Alberta Children's Hospital and data from the Canadian Congenital Anomalies Surveillance System revealed the annual birth prevalence rate of neural tube defects in southern Alberta in 1970-81 to be 1.62/1000 total births. This figure suggests southern Alberta to be a low-frequency area. There was no significant variation in the annual rates of spina bifida, encephalocele or all neural tube defects combined over the study period. A significant linear decline in the frequency of births of anencephalic infants, however, was noted (p = 0.025). Information on the total reproductive history of the mothers revealed that the empiric risk of recurrence of a neural tube defect was 2.2%, and the risk to all siblings was estimated to be 2.3%. In future prevalence studies multiple sources of case ascertainment should be used, including data on pregnancies terminated because of a fetal neural tube defect.
ISSN:0820-3946
1488-2329