Estimating Global Burden of Disease due to congenital anomaly: an analysis of European data.

Helen Dolk, Breidge Boyle, Marie-Claude Addor, Larraitz Arriola, Ingeborg Barisic, Fabrizio Bianchi, Melinda Csaky-Szunyogh, HEK de Walle, Carlos Matias Dias, E Draper, Miriam Gatt, Garne Ester, Martin Haeusler, Karin Kallen, Anna Latos-Bielenska , B McDonnell, Carmel Mullaney, Vera Nelen, Amanda Neville, Mary O'MahonyA Queisser-Wahrendorf, Hanitra Randrianaivo-Ranjatoelina, J Rankin, Anke Rissmann, Annukka Ritvanen, Catherine Rounding, David Tucker, Christine Verellen-Dumoulin, Diana Wellesley, B Wreyford, Natalya Zymak-Zakutnia

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

147 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To validate the estimates of Global Burden of Disease (GBD) due to congenital anomaly for Europe by comparing infant mortality data collected by EUROCAT registries with the WHO Mortality Database, and by assessing the significance of stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy for fetal anomaly (TOPFA) in the interpretation of infant mortality statistics. DESIGN, SETTING AND OUTCOME MEASURES: EUROCAT is a network of congenital anomaly registries collecting data on live births, fetal deaths from 20 weeks' gestation and TOPFA. Data from 29 registries in 19 countries were analysed for 2005-2009, and infant mortality (deaths of live births at age <1 year) compared with the WHO Mortality Database. Eight EUROCAT countries were excluded from further analysis on the basis that this comparison showed poor ascertainment of survival status. RESULTS: According to WHO, 17%-42% of infant mortality was attributed to congenital anomaly. In 11 EUROCAT countries, average infant mortality with congenital anomaly was 1.1 per 1000 births, with higher rates where TOPFA is illegal (Malta 3.0, Ireland 2.1). The rate of stillbirths with congenital anomaly was 0.6 per 1000. The average TOPFA prevalence was 4.6 per 1000, nearly three times more prevalent than stillbirths and infant deaths combined. TOPFA also impacted on the prevalence of postneonatal survivors with non-lethal congenital anomaly. CONCLUSIONS: By excluding TOPFA and stillbirths from GBD years of life lost (YLL) estimates, GBD underestimates the burden of disease due to congenital anomaly, and thus declining YLL over time may obscure lack of progress in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)F22-F28
JournalArchives of disease in childhood: Fetal and neonatal edition
Volume103
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished (in print/issue) - 30 Jun 2017

Keywords

  • Congenital Anomaly
  • mortality

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Estimating Global Burden of Disease due to congenital anomaly: an analysis of European data.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this