» Articles » PMID: 29801440

A National Estimate of the Birth Prevalence of Congenital Anomalies in India: Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Overview
Journal BMC Pediatr
Publisher Biomed Central
Specialty Pediatrics
Date 2018 May 27
PMID 29801440
Citations 27
Authors
Affiliations
Soon will be listed here.
Abstract

Background: A quarter of all global neonatal deaths occur in India. Congenital anomalies constitute the fifth largest cause of neonatal mortality in the country, but national estimates of the prevalence of these conditions are lacking. The objective of the study was to derive an estimate of the birth prevalence of congenital anomalies in India.

Methods: The search was carried out in PubMed and pooled prevalence was estimated using the inverse variance method. A random effects model was used due to high heterogeneity between the studies. Forest plots were generated using the Review Manager software.

Results: The PubMed search identified 878 articles from which 52 hospital based and three community based studies were included in the meta-analysis. The pooled prevalence of congenital anomaly affected births was 184.48 per 10,000 births (95% CI 164.74-204.21) among 802,658 births. Anomalies of the musculoskeletal system were highest among live births while the prevalence of central nervous system defects was highest when stillbirths were included in the analysis. Anencephaly and talipes were the most commonly reported anomalies.

Conclusions: Data from this meta-analysis suggests that there may be as many as 472,177 (421,652 to 522,676) congenital anomaly affected births in India each year. Population based studies using standard definitions are needed to validate these estimates. The two most frequently reported anomalies were anencephaly that is potentially preventable through preconception folate supplementation, and talipes which can be corrected using relatively low cost interventions. Studies are needed to determine the impact of congenital anomalies on neonatal mortality in India.

Citing Articles

Birth prevalence and determinants of neural tube defects among newborns in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Gebremariam B, Hailu D, Stoecker B, Mulugeta A PLoS One. 2025; 20(1):e0315122.

PMID: 39746047 PMC: 11695007. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0315122.


Cost analysis of outpatient services for major external structural birth defects: an ingredient approach in selected hospitals in Kiambu County, Kenya.

Agot G, Wangombe J, Mweu M Pan Afr Med J. 2024; 48:137.

PMID: 39554266 PMC: 11567910. DOI: 10.11604/pamj.2024.48.137.40501.


Prevalence and death rate of birth defects from population-based surveillance in Hunan Province, China, 2010-2020.

Zhou X, Xie D, Jiang Y, Fang J Sci Rep. 2024; 14(1):14609.

PMID: 38918397 PMC: 11199636. DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65072-7.


Early-Neonatal, Late-Neonatal, Postneonatal, and Child Mortality Rates Across India, 1993-2021.

Subramanian S, Kumar A, Pullum T, Ambade M, Rajpal S, Kim R JAMA Netw Open. 2024; 7(5):e2410046.

PMID: 38728034 PMC: 11087840. DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.10046.


Evaluation of a hospital-based surveillance system for birth defects in Chennai, India.

Velayudhan A, Seshadri S, Jagadeesan S, Saravanan J, Yadav R, Yeung L Int J Community Med Public Health. 2024; 8(11):5484-5488.

PMID: 38617822 PMC: 11010458. DOI: 10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20214293.


References
1.
Dutta V, Chaturvedi P . Congenital malformations in rural Maharashtra. Indian Pediatr. 2000; 37(9):998-1001. View

2.
Liu L, Johnson H, Cousens S, Perin J, Scott S, Lawn J . Global, regional, and national causes of child mortality: an updated systematic analysis for 2010 with time trends since 2000. Lancet. 2012; 379(9832):2151-61. DOI: 10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60560-1. View

3.
Ghosh S, Bhargava S, Butani R . Congenital malformations in a longitudinally studied birth cohort in an urban community. Indian J Med Res. 1985; 82:427-33. View

4.
Shannon G, Alberg C, Nacul L, Pashayan N . Preconception healthcare and congenital disorders: systematic review of the effectiveness of preconception care programs in the prevention of congenital disorders. Matern Child Health J. 2013; 18(6):1354-79. DOI: 10.1007/s10995-013-1370-2. View

5.
Chinara P, Singh S . East-West differentials in congenital malformations in India. Indian J Pediatr. 1982; 49(398):325-9. DOI: 10.1007/BF02834415. View